RAMANATHAPURAM
Sleuths of Customs Preventive Unit (CPU) at Rameswaram have detained seven persons, including five members of a Sri Lankan Tamil family, after they made a vain bid to clandestinely sail to Sri Lanka in a boat.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs and on the orders of V. Rajkumar Moses, Assistant Commissioner, Customs, Ramanathapuram division, a special team, led by Manickam, Superintendent of Rameswaram CPU, detained the Sri Lankan Tamils, Ganesh, 60, his wife, two daughters and 10-year-old grandson, Anand, 39, a local resident who arranged for their clandestine transportation, and autorickshaw driver Loganathan, who was waiting for them on the main road, on Sunday night.
Anand, who had collected total amount of ₹ 1.25 lakh from the Lankan Tamils, took them to Rettaithalai seashore in Dhanushkodi after arranging a boat from Sri Lanka. The boat, which was scheduled to arrive at Sri Lankan shore at 11 p.m. returned, apparently after some technical snag, they said.
Anand had arranged the trip for the Lankan Tamils along with his friend Loganathan, the officials said. The Lankan Tamils, who were staying in Anaiyur refugee camp in Madurai, reached Rameswaram on Saturday and stayed with Anand before reaching the shore on Sunday night.
Enquiries revealed that the Lankan Tamils, who were from Kilinochi, had reached Tamil Nadu 16 years ago and were staying in the camp. Ganesh decided to return to his native place with his wife and two married daughters after their husbands deserted them. His son was living in Kilinochi, he told the police.
They were handed over to Dhanushkodi police, who have registered a case.
