Uttara Kannada fishermen held captive in Iran return home

Bhatkal: Seven fishermen from Uttara Kannada, who had been held captive in Iran for over five months after they allegedly strayed into Iranian waters last year returned to their homes on Wednesday night.

As many as 18 fishermen, working as fishermen in Dubai had been taken into captivity by the Iranian security forces in two separate incidents on July 27, and August 25 last year near Kish Island in Iran. While few of the fishermen had been placed under boat arrest few others had been sent to Iran jail.

The Iranian government had subsequently released the seven fishermen – Yakoob Shamali, Ajmal Shamali, Inayat Shamali, Ilyas Ambadi, Ilyas Gharu of Kumta, Kashim Shaikh of Ankola, Khaleel Panipudu of Bhatkal on January 8 and they reached Dubai the next day. It is gathered that these fishermen landed in Mangaluru by an Air India Express flight from Dubai at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and later proceeded to their native by road.

As per sources, people from Uttara Kannada Muslim community, who are working in Dubai, joined hands to sponsor their return flight tickets. The remaining fishermen are expected to fly down here in the coming weeks, they added.