New Delhi, March 22 (Agency) The Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday apprehended six Sri Lankans, including three children, near Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu when they were allegedly trying to migrate illegally into India. Officials said the Sri Lankans were in a boat when they were caught in the Indian territorial waters. It was not immediately clear if the Sri Lankans were Tamils.
Sri Lankan Tamils have escaped to Tamil Nadu in large numbers both to escape alleged persecution in their country on ethnic grounds and in search of better livelihood opportunities. Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu are divided by a narrow strip of sea. Recently, the Indian Coast Guard caught a Sri Lankan boat with six crew members fishing in Indian waters.