Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Police have busted a Sri Lankan people-smuggling group and arrested 61 Eelam Tamils from Sri Lanka for illegally staying in India. Reports say that 38 persons detained in Mangaluru, and 23 others detained in Madurai.
According to the police, the smugglers smuggle them into Canada through container ships or private boats. Following the tip-off from Tamil Nadu police, the Karnataka police initiated the operation to arrest the illegally staying Eelam Tamils.
“We have also arrested seven Indian nationals who were helping these Sri Lankan nationals. All the accused have been booked under relevant sections,” Karnataka’s Mangaluru city police commissioner N Sashi Kumar said.
According to the Karnataka police, they were reached Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu illegally by boats. The arrested persons had paid ₹10 lakh Sri Lankan rupees to an agent-based in Sri Lanka to take them to Canada.
“They were staying in lodges in Tamil Nadu, and after the police checks intensified during the Tamil Nadu’s state elections, some of them were shifted to Bengaluru. Later, they split into smaller groups and arrived in Mangaluru,” police commissioner said.
