Coral reef seized; four Sri Lankan refugees held in India
August 31, 2015 11:34 am
Coral reefs weighing about 20 kg were seized from four Sri Lankan refugees by the Q Branch police in Kanyakumari district in India, according to the Hindu newspaper.
Indian Police sources said that the coral reefs were seized during the regular raid conducted by the Q branch police in the refugee camp at Kozhiporvilai near Kaliyakavilai.
The seized coral reef and the arrested refugees were handed over to the Forest Department for further action.
The arrested refugees were; S. Selvakumar (28), S. Anandaraja (48), I. Parthiban (20) and C. Diwakaran (21).
The refugees reportedly confessed to the police that they brought the coral reef banned under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Act from Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour in Kerala for using them in fish tanks.