Heavy influx of Tamil refugees from Lanka

Rameswaram, June 27: About 130 Tamil refugees have arrived here from Sri Lanka since yesterday morning, fearing for their lives in the wake of the spiralling violence in the island nation.

Police sources said the influx of refugees, which had been low key since the last few days due to renewed hopes of resumption of peace talks, picked up as fear-stricken Tamils landed at Dhanushkodi and other areas.

The sources said at least 69 refugees belonging to 25 families arrived at Arichamunai in Dhanushkodi. A group of refugees landed at Olaikuda, Vedhalai and Anthoniyar koil. The refugees hail from Jaffna, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Talaimannar, Pesalai, Kodigamam and Nandeeswaranmalai.

Hiring boats from Mannar and Pesalai at exorbitant rates, most of the refugees land at Kothandaramar koil, Vadakadu and Paaraiadi to board buses to Rameswaram.

''This morning, 17 refugees arrived, taking the total number of refugees to more than 3500 in the Mandapam camp,'' the sources said and added that the Tamils feared backlash from the military troops following yesterday's suicide bomb attack on Sri Lankan Army's Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Parami Kulatunga near Pannipitiya, killing him on the spot.

Police and ''Q'' branch officials, ascertain the identity of each of the refugees before sending them to Mandapam camp.

UNI