Arrested Lankans had LTTE links

The five Sri Lankan Tamils and four Keralites who were arrested on Monday for cheating 34 Sri Lankans at refugee camps in Tamil Nadu are suspected to have had LTTE links.

The officials have sought the assistance of Tamil Nadu Q branch in this regard.

Ernakulam Rural SP Harshitha Attaluri told Express that nine persons, including the agents are suspected to had some connections with the LTTE in the past. “The arrested were quizzed in Kalamassery police camp. We keep them under suspicion and nothing can be confirmed unless the Tamil Nadu Q branch personnel interrogate them.

The Crime Branch and intelligence officials said that most of the refugees admitted that they are not happy with the circumstances in the refugee camps and want to get out from there.

It is learnt that the agents demanded two lakhs to four lakhs for transporting them to Australia.

Meanwhile the Police arrested two more persons in connection with the case on Tuesday. The arrested were identified as Antony, 31, a native of Kulachil, Tamil Nadu and Sareesh, 30 of Kothamangalam. These persons were taken into custody from Kothamangalam. The police had arrested nine persons - Nathan, Guru, David, Madanan and Selvan of Sri Lanka and Kuriakose, Geo, Shibu and Bibesh of Kothamangalam on Monday. The police also seized a ferry ‘Varnimol’ from Munambam in which the agents promised to take them to Australia. The arrested people will be presented before the Kothamangalam Judicial Magistrate. Express News Service