'I wrote to everybody including the President. But when watched the news last night, I felt like committing suicide. Aren't we human beings'

Over 90 Sri Lankan fishermen were arrested and charged in courts by the Indian authorities, they say.

Sri Lanka on Friday released 136 Indian fishermen in custody.

They have been held in custody under charges of fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

Singaravel Kumar, one of the released fishermen speaking to BBC Tamil service from Nagapatnam said that they were handed over to Sri Lankan authorities by Sri Lankan fishermen who confronted them at sea.

'Reciprocate'

He stressed that the Indian fishermen did not enter Sri Lankan waters.

Family members demand that India reciprocate Sri Lanka's goodwill gesture by releasing the Sri Lankan fishermen detained by India.

There can't be two laws for two countries. We all are fishermen and we are not stealing anything A relative of a detained fisherman

Family members of Chilaw fishermen began their protest after a religious ceremony on Saturday to invoke blessings to the fishermen in Indian custody.

"It has been 1300 hours, 65 days," one woman shouted.

Another woman said if Sri Lanka freed arrested Indian fishermen within three days, India should release their relatives who are kept for over 65 days.

"There can't be two laws for two countries. We all are fishermen and we are not stealing anything," another man said.

A wife of a detained fisherman said her husband was arrested by the Indian authorities on 15 December.

"I wrote to everybody including the President. But when watched the news last night, I felt like committing suicide. Aren't we human beings," she said.

Hilary Prasanna, the former chairman of Chilaw Municipal Council said that nearly 100 fishermen including 16 from Chilaw are in Indian custody.

Although released on bail by Indian courts, he said, they were not allowed to leave India.

21 Sri Lankan fishermen were about to arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday, Sri Lanka's fisheries ministry officials said.