We were locked inside our boat and survived only on bread and water for three months in the Iranian territorial waters. We never thought we would make it alive, said Alex Pandian. Pandian was among the six fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were held captive in their boat for straying into Iranian territory. They returned to Chennai on Monday after a three month ordeal. The 22-year-old, along with five other fishermen, employed by an UAE national in Dubai, had gone for fishing in the Persian Gulf when they were stopped and detained inside their boat by the Iranian coast guards sometime in September. Before their arrest, their employer allegedly tried explaining that they were still in UAE waters, but in vain. They pulled out their guns and directed us to go inside the cabin, he said. Mebilton, another fisherman, said they were not produced before any Iranian authority, They instead held us captive inside our boat’s cabin for three months, he said. After much insistence, Mebilton was allowed to make only one phone call. He called his wife Donetta, and explained the situation. She then contacted members from the National Domestic Workers’ Movement, who also have a migrant forum in the city. The organisation with help of the commissionerate of rehabilitation and welfare of non-resident Tamils and external affairs ministry helped secure their release. The fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli had gone to the UAE at different time periods, looking for work. All the six belong to poor families, who were wholly dependent on their incomes. The last three months must have been extremely difficult for them, since we are the sole bread winners, said Mebilton, whose family lives in Tirunelveli. Donetta and families of the other fishermen were reportedly ordered to send Rs 27,500 for airfare for return journey. I had to borrow from five people. Now that my husband has no job, I don’t know how to repay them, she said. Officials from the commissionerate said they are looking at ways to rehabilitate and provide employment for them.