The Dhanushkodi police have arrested a Sri Lankan Tamil, who attempted to clandestinely leave for Talaimannar, and two others, including a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee who promised him a trip by boat.

A patrol party arrested Antony Francis, 54, in the early hours of Tuesday as he walked back from Kothandaramarkoil after failing to make his trip. Francis, a native of Vavuniya, wanted to meet his family, but he was taken for a ride by Shanmugam, a refugee in the Mandapam camp. Shanmugam collected Rs. 40,000 from Francis for the trip, but dropped him mid-sea with the help of a local fisherman and returned, the police said.

The police arrested Shanmugam and fisherman Manoj after seizing the country boat used to ferry Francis on Monday night. The police said Francis, who had gone to France in 2005, came to Mumbai a month ago. He was staying in his relative’s house at Porur, near Chennai, for two weeks before reaching here two days ago.

(The Hindu)