Sri Lanka has freed 126 fishermen from Tamil Nadu it arrested over the last few month.
Some of the released fishermen arrived in India on Friday, however their boats remained in Sri Lanka's custody.
The Rameswaram fishermen who had been languishing in Anurathapuram prison complained about inhumane treatment while they were in prison, including being given rotten food.
At least one fisherman said he suffered from food poisoning and was treated in the jail hospital, according to The Hindu.
Earlier this year, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe repeatedly stated the Sri Lankan navy had the right to shoot Indian fishermen who stray into its waters.
"If someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed...Law allows me to do that," Mr Wickremesinghe told an Indian TV program.
The arrests caused an outcry in Tamil Nadu including a 50,000 strong protest and hunger strikes from the detainee’s families.
Chief Minister J Jaylalitha had written to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge Sri Lanka to release the fishermen.
Sri Lanka PM reiterates navy can shoot Indian fishermen in its waters (16 Mar 2015)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister blames previous Indi-Lanka agreements for pathetic plight of fishermen (02 Nov 2015)
Families of Indian fishermen protests against Sri Lankan navy (08 Oct 2015)
Tamil Nadu chief minister write to Modi over repeated arrests (13 Oct 2015)