The police arrested two more persons in connection with the attempt to cheat Sri Lankan Tamils after promising them to be transported to Australia.
Thirty-seven refugees from different camps in Tamil Nadu, including women and children, were rescued from Kothamangalam and Thadiyittaparambu in rural district on Monday. They were promised to be taken out on a fishing vessel.
The owner of the fishing vessel, Sareesh from Munambam, and another person named Antony, who acted as middleman for selling the vessel, were arrested on Tuesday.
Five Sri Lankans and four locals were arrested on Monday for attempting to cheat the refugees.
A team from Q-Branch, the intelligence wing of Tamil Nadu Police, will arrive here soon to quiz the refugees. Their status will be decided after that, Harshita Attaluri, Superintendent of Police, Ernakulam Rural, told The Hindu.
The police had busted a similar attempt to cheat Sri Lankan Tamil refugees by promising them asylum and jobs in Australia back in June this year. Sixteen persons were rescued then.
