Lankan prisoners flee, held in Rameswaram

The duo identified as Meriltan and Silambarasan, from Rameswaram, had reached the Rameswaram coast in the morning in a mechanised boat belonging to Indian fishermen.

As soon as they reached the coast, the fishermen handed them over the Marine police at Rameswaram.

When they were interrogated, the duo said they were arrested in 2013 by Sri Lankan Navy on charge of smuggling narcotic substances and since then they were lodged in a prion at Jaffna. They were let out on parole three months ago.

But, they did not returned to the prison. Instead, they went into hiding at Mannar.

On Tuesday, with the help of Mannar fishermen, they had reached the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL).

When they were waiting near the IMBL, a mechanised boat passed by and they had requested the fishermen to take them to Rameswaram.

The fishermen obliged but handed them over to the Marine police. Based on their statement, the Marine police at Mandapam have booked a case against them and they have been arrested.