Tamil Nadu: 2 Sri Lankans after their boat washes ashore on Munaikkadu beach

According to the officials, fishermen in the area informed the police that two men escaped from the Sri Lankan piper boat.

"On Tuesday early morning, a fibre boat belonging to Sri Lankan mannar named OFRP-A-3156-MNR washed ashore on the beach of Munaikkadu next to Mandapam in the Bay of Bengal, Ramanathapuram district. The fishermen of the area have informed the police that two mysterious persons escaped from the Sri Lanka Piper boat. The police made a thorough investigation and searched for those who came on the boat if they were anti-social, extremists, smugglers or Sri Lankan refugees," said the Police.

Mandapam Coastal Security Group police found and arrested both K Rosen alias Jagan and S Nagendran who were hiding near the Mandapam camp forest area.

"In the investigation of both, it was revealed that K Robinson, a resident of Mandapam refugee camp, helped them to come here illegally," according to police.

Mandapam Coastal Security Group police have also arrested Robinson.

A case has been registered. Further investigations are underway.

More information awaited.

Meanwhile, Seventeen fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly poaching in the territorial waters of the island nation arrived at the Chennai airport on Wednesday morning.

The Sri Lankan Navy detained the 17 fishermen and their three boats on September 13. Following the State and Central government intervention they were released by Sri Lanka Court on September 27.

As per the Sri Lankan navy, the fishermen who were poaching in the Sri Lankan waters off Kakarathivu and Kovilan Lighthouse, Jaffna, were detained. The navy brought their three boats to Kankesanthurai port and handed them over to the fisheries inspector at Mailadi for onward legal proceedings.

Earlier last month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging him to initiate diplomatic efforts with the Sri Lanka government to secure the release of the fishermen detained by the Lankan Navy.

In the letter, Stalin sought to draw Jaishankar's attention to the matter, saying that "three mechanised boats and 17 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, allegedly for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) into Sri Lankan waters".(ANI)