RAMANATHAPURAM
police have arrested a Sri Lankan Tamil who was wandering at Kambi Padu after clandestinely landing near Dhanushkodi on Monday night.
On being alerted by the local people, the police arrested the Lankan Tamil, Jayaseelan, 52, on Wednesday. Inquiries revealed that he had reached Dhanushkodi seashore on Monday night. He was roaming around in the area on Tuesday when the local people alerted the police.
Interrogation revealed that Jayaseelan, along with another Sri Lankan Tamil, Raju, had received a consignment of ganja smuggled from Rameswaram near Katchatheevu on Monday.
When Sri Lankan Navy personnel patrolling in the area noticed their activity and tried to arrest them, they threw a couple of bundles of ganja into the sea and tried to escape. While Raju was detained by the Lankan navy along with the boat, Jayaseelan jumped into the sea and swam to Dhanushkodi, the police said.
Dhanushkodi police had on Tuesday found two bags of ganja on the seashore and the contraband was part of the smuggled consignment that was thrown into the sea by the duo.
The police said Jayaseelan, known as ‘Kadal pura’ in the smuggling circles, faced at lest three cases – one each filed by the police in Rameswaram Town, Mandapam and Kilakarai. In the Rameswaram case, he was arrested under the provisions of the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, and the Foreigners Act.
Kilakarai police had arrested him under the Arms Act, but he was acquitted in the case. Mandapam police had booked him under the NDPS Act and the case was still pending, the police said.
Dhanushkodi police arrested him under Section 3 (a) read with 6 (a) of the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.