Six suspected hardcore LTTE cadres were among the 44 illicit emigrants who attempted to migrate to Australia on Sunday from Kalmunai and were detained at the Boossa camp for further investigations, the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) told a Colombo Court today.

The TID told Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singappuli that among the 44 suspects there were women and infants.

The illegal migrants were arrested at Kalmunai by the Navy when they were attempting to travel to Australia on the trawler Nethra Duwa.

The TID said they would be charged under the Immigration and Emigration Act.

Counsel Sisira Senanayake appeared for the defence and moved that the infants be handed over to their grandparents.

The suspects were remanded till September 29 and directed that the two infants be given to their grandparents. (TFT)