Returning fishermen fly to Delhi, kin disappointed

For the relatives of the five Indian fishermen released from death row in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, a day of jubilant celebrations turned out to be a huge disappointment.

The fishermen — Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasath and J Langlet— who were scheduled to arrive in Trichy, caused dismay among the waiting kin at the airport and instead chose to fly directly to Delhi to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking steps in securing their release.

Family and friends of the fishermen came all the way from Thangachimadam, a fishing hamlet in Rameshwaram town in Ramanathapuram district, to give a rousing welcome for the returnees at the Trichy airport on Thursday early morning. They distributed sweets at the airport.

However, there was a change of mood among the assembled crowd after 11 am, when the flight from Colombo bearing the fishermen should have arrived in the city.
They had no information from the authorities about a delay, which only heightened their tension.

“It is frustrating as no one bothered to tell us about the delay. We do not know what to do,” Jansi, wife of Wilson, said.

Following the uncertainty of the fishermen’s arrival, the disappointed family and friends gathered at Trichy airport left for their homes.