Sri Lankan couple held while trying to flee on illegal ferry

Madurai: Thangachimadam police in Rameswaram island arrested a Sri Lankan couple and five local people who arranged an illegal ferry for them from the island to Sri Lanka. The couple who came to India in 2017 overstayed after their visa period ended and were trying to flee back.

Thangachimadam police said they were inspecting hotels and resorts in their jurisdiction on Wednesday when they stumbled upon R Rajeshwaran, 48, and his wife Santhi, 44.

They started giving contradictory answers to their questions. Further interrogation revealed that they were from Matale in Central Province of Sri Lanka. They had travelled to India on proper passports and visa in 2017 but did not leave after their visa expired. They managed to stay in the Puzhal area in Chennai.

Since they did not have any documents to travel back legally, the couple decided to take an illegal ferry. One Vinod Kumar from Puzhal arranged the illegal ferry with the help of local people in Vethalai in Ramanathapuram district. Police arrested the couple, Vinod Kumar and the others from Vethalai on the Mandapam coast.

The couple had agreed to pay Rs 2.5 lakh for the ferry and were all set to depart on Wednesday night, said police. They have been booked under various sections of Foreigners Act 1948 and 1946. All seven were produced before a court which remanded them in judicial custody said police.

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