A Sri Lankan Tamil couple with their two children landed clandestinely at Arichal Munai off Danushkodi early on Saturday and were arrested by the Marine police on charges of illegal entry.

The Mandapam Marine police of the Coastal Security Group (CSG) arrested them when they arrived around 1.30 a.m. from Talaimannar by a boat.

As they could not be granted refugee status, the Marine police arrested the Selvaraj Antony Cruz (35), Selvi Nirmali (32) and their sons Rozario (7) and Riyanson (3) under section 3 (a) read with 6(a) of Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, and section 14 of the Foreigners Act, Additional Superintendent of police C. Kanagasabapathi, CSG, said.

They were produced before a local magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Nirmali is likely to be lodged in the quarantine ward with her children at the Mandapam refugee camp, the police said. Cruz, who hailed from Ezhamvattaram in Mullaitivu, claimed that he came to Tamil Nadu to stay with his sister in the Aliyar refugee camp in Arantangi and get treatment for his wife, who was four months pregnant and was suffering from kidney ailment.

He told The Hindu that he was never in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam but was frequently questioned by the CID police there. Fearing that he might be caught on suspicion, he decided to come to Tamil Nadu. (The Hindu)