Navy detains 2 clandestine boat operators at mid sea

Ramanathapuram, Mar 31 (UNI) The Indian Navy detained two Sri Lankan nationals, who were operating boat services clandestinely from the island nation to Tamil Nadu at mid sea, today.

Official sources said, acting on an alert given by an Indian Navy helicopter during sea surveillance, a naval vessel intercepted the fibreglass boat and detained its two-crew members. The boat bearing registration number TNMR 86 (registered at Talaimannar in Sri Lanka) was brought to Mandapam coast.

Interrogation revealed that the duo Andran (39) boat driver and his helper Vallantin (24), both hailing from Talaimannar, were returning to Sri Lanka after dropping four Sri Lankan Tamil refugees at Arichalmunai seashore.

Later, they were handed over to Tamil Nadu police for further interrogations.

Meanwhile, the four Sri Lankan Tamil refugees Naguleswari (34) and her three children Sanjeevan (13), Lakshya (12) and Kanishka (seven), who were dropped by the boat were housed at the special refugee camp at Mandapam, here.

The woman had paid a sum of Rs 50,000 to Andran for dropping them in Tamil Nadu, the sources added.

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