Two Sri Lankans arrested in Dhanushkodi
August 20, 2014 12:24 pm
The Indian police in Dhanushkodi have arrested a Sri Lankan Tamil who attempted to clandestinely leave for Talaimannar and two others, including a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee who promised him a trip by boat.
On information from fishermen, a patrol party arrested Antony Francis, 54, in the early hours of Tuesday as he walked back from Kothandaramarkoil after failing to make his trip to Talaimannar.
The police said Francis, a native of Vavuniya, wanted to flee to Talaimannar to meet his family but he was taken for a ride by Shanmugam, a refugee in the Mandapam camp.
Shanmugam collected Rs. 40,000 from Francis for the trip, but dropped him mid-sea with the help of a local fisherman and returned, the police said.
The police arrested Shanmugam and fisherman Manoj after seizing the country boat used to ferry Francis on Monday night. He returned after no one from Talaimannar turned up to pick him up. The police are also searching for the boat owner.
The police said Francis, who had gone to France in 2005, came to Mumbai a month ago. He had been staying in his relative’s house at Porur, near Chennai, for two weeks before reaching here two days ago.
He was staying at Serankottai near here and contacted Shanmugam to arrange his trip, the police said. - The Hindu
