On 9 June 2025, five members of a Sri Lankan Tamil family were detained by the Rameshwaram beach police after they arrived illegally by boat near Rameshwaram.
According to police reports, the group included 43-year-old M. Mohammed Kiyas from Kandy, his wife M. Fathima Farhana (34), and their three children—M. Mohammed Yahya (12), and twin daughters M. Alisha and M. Amira, both aged 4. The family is believed to have been dropped off along the coastline between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi.
Local authorities were alerted to the landing and subsequently informed the marine police, who took the family into custody for further questioning.
According to the reports during the inquiry, the family claimed they had fled Sri Lanka due to worsening economic conditions. Officials said they are likely to be accommodated at the Mandapam Rehabilitation Centre, which houses Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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