MADURAI, MARCH 16: Inspector General of Police (coastal security) V Balachandran said yesterday that all Lankan refugees arriving in India would be videographed and their fingerprints recorded.Speaking to reporters, he said terrorists should not gain entry into the country under the pretext of refugees. Only after people's identities were thoroughly screened would they be allowed into Rameswaram, he added.
In the last 14 months, around 11,500 refugees had arrived from Jaffna, Vanni, Mannar and Mullaitheevu to Rameswaram. According to some of the refugees, the IG said, continuous war in these places had resulted in the migration and most of them arrived in Rameswaram in Lankan boats after paying Rs 5000 for each adult. Children travelled free of cost, Balachandran added.
The refugees complained that the ongoing war had not only claimed lives, but also resulted in non-availability of electricity, food and water. With high incidence of malarial fever reported in a few parts of Lanka, the people wereforced to move to Rameswaram for safety, he noted. The authorities have seized four boats in which the refugees arrived some days ago.
Balachandran said investigations are under way against two boat owners, adding that security would be beefed up in coordination with district police officials.
With fresh allocation of 20 high-speed vehicles allocated by the state government to the department, Balachandran said three jeeps would be exclusively operated in and around Rameswaram, while Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram and Chennai would monitor coastal movements.
A 40 feet high watch tower will be constructed at Arichamunai, near Dhanushkodi, by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation. The tower will monitor the movements of refugees and help prevent smuggling activities. The state police will provide 60 metal detectors to the coastal authorities to check all vehicles operating in various parts of Tamil Nadu, he added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
