They were whisked into the High Commission premises in a vehicle with tinted windows and were not allowed to speak to reporters and photographers who had gathered outside. Their vehicle was escorted by an ICRC jeep.

All of them will stay overnight in the high security chancery where they are being debriefed before they return home.

The Indians, who spent four days in the custody of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were released this morning to representatives of the ICRC at Mallavi in Tiger-controlled northern Sri Lanka.

The ICRC is still negotiating the release of the four Sri Lankan crew members. The 21 seamen were taken away by the Tigers last Friday after their ship, M V Princess Kash, was bombed by the SriLanka Air Force to prevent its cargo of vehicles and building materials from being seized by the LTTE. The bombing came after the vessel was found anchored off the Sea Tiger base of Mullaithivu by the Sri Lankan navy. While the Tigers said they had led the vessel there for an investigation after finding it loitering in "LTTE waters", the Sri Lankan government accused the ship's master B N Karkera of "acting in connivance" with the LTTE to transport "dangerous" merchandise to them.

It is not clear yet whether Sri Lanka plans to pursue its allegation against the captain. India has requested for clarifications from the government on its allegation.