Indian police arrest 28 Sri Lankan refugees

In a joint operation, Q Branch sleuths and the Tiruvallur police on Thursday morning arrested 28 Sri Lankan refugees, including nine juveniles, who planned to flee to Australia by ferry from Pulicat.

While six women and 13 men, from the Gummidipoondi. Puzhal, Bhavanisagar and Vellore refugee camps, were sent to Puzhal jail, the juveniles were sent to children's home in Chennai. Police also nabbed Sukumar, the kingpin of the racket, two agents and three drivers. Sukumar's accomplice Suresh managed to escape.

Investigations revealed that Sukumar promised to take the refugees by ferry to midsea where they were to be transported on to another vessel to Christmas Island off Australia.

Based on a tip, police apprehended the refugees at Thirupalaivanam village near Ponneri in Tiruvallur district and at Sholavaram. Split into two groups, they were travelling in three vans with Sukumar riding ahead on a two-wheeler as the pilot.

After Sukumar crossed the Tirupalaivanam check post, he found two vans following him were missing. He turned back, approached a policeman and asked if he had seen a van. Police, who had by then taken into custody 18 refugees in the two vans, nabbed Sukumar.

Separately, in Sholavaram, police nabbed 10 refugees in the third van.

Sources said an estimated 1,200 people, mostly Sri Lankan Tamils, died at sea between 2008 and 2013 while travelling by boat to Australia. Australian diplomats have time and again stressed that it was impossible for anyone coming by boat without a valid visa to settle down in Australia but the trips by boat continue. (Times of India)

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