NAGAPATTINAM: At least six Sri Lankans have been arrested by the Q branch of the Tamil Nadu Police for attempting to leave for New Zealand illegally by sea.
Indian media reports that over the past two days, the Q branch foiled alleged illegal migration attempts.
Three other Sri Lankans, who acted as “agents” to facilitate their voyage, have also been taken into custody.
Following information of some people preparing to leave the country in a couple of days, a police team from the Q branch had apprehended five persons from refugee camps across the state and an illegal immigrant.
The five were a woman and her two sons from Kelavarapalli camp in Krishnagiri district, one from Kulathuvaipatti camp in Thoothukudi district and one from Gudimallur camp in Vellore district.
A 36-year-old person who was not in possession of refugee documents was deemed an illegal immigrant.
The Q branch has handed over the detained Lankans to the law and order police who took them into custody for interrogation.
Officials said that some of the Sri Lankan refugees had arrived during the civil war and some even born to refugee parents in India.
The illegal immigrant, meanwhile, arrived in 2016.
