Indian Navy detains two Lankan clandestine boat operators

Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, May 2 (UNI) The Indian Navy has detained two Sri Lankan clandestine boat operators and seized a fibre glass boat used to transport Sri Lankan Tamils, off Mandapam coast here late last night.

Official sources said an Indian Naval vessel, during routine surveillance, intercepted the boat, which dropped a group of 13 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees at an isle in the Indian territorial waters. While the refugees were taken to Mandapam, the clandestine boat operators were detained for questioning by the Navy.

The detained were identified as Umapathy Vijayan (29) and Rajan (25). After interrogation, they would be handed over to the Tamil Nadu police for further action, the sources added.

Sri Lankan Tamils used to hire clandestine boats from the island nation by paying a huge sum to take refuges in Tamil Nadu, following the ethnic strife there.

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