The mystery of the boat that berthed at Serankottai in Dhanushkodi coast was unravelled when three Sri Lankan Tamils who reached there by the boat were apprehended by the marine police at Kunthukal.
Police and security personnel were groping in the dark following the recovery of a fibreglass boat at Serankottai coast on Wednesday. They were wondering whether the persons who arrived by the boat were LTTE cadres or smugglers.
Meanwhile three Sri Lankans, Gulam Mohideen (28), Safan (16) and Melkhan, of Erikalpatti village in Mannar district, were detained by the marine police personnel at Kunthukal on Thursday. They told the police that they had come by the boat owned by their relatives from Pechalai, unable to bear the torture in Sri Lanka. They had strayed to Kunthukal area after disembarkation from the boat.
The marine police team led by Inspector Sekar detained and questioned them. They said that the government welfare measures were not reaching the Tamils and there was discrimination against them. Sinhalese were given priority in
any welfare scheme. They also told the police that the Lankan army tortured Tamils found in the streets. Tamil fishermen were being beaten by the Lankan navy which robbed them of their belongings. Therefore, Tamils cannot lead a peaceful life in that country. Many Tamils were trying to cross over to India. The three men were sent to Mandapam camp for inquiry.
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