Lankan refugee detained; pilgrims leave for Katchatheevu

A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee was arrested here today when he allegedly attempted to proceed to Katchatheevu along with hundreds of pilgrims headed to the islet for the annual festival at the St Anthony's Church.
Q Branch Police detained 27-year old Prashanth, hailing from Kilinochchi in the northern province of Sri Lanka and an inmate of a refugee camp in Tiruchirappalli, as he had no valid papers for travelling to Katchatheevu, located about 13 nautical miles from here.
He was trying to board one of the boats arranged to ferry the registered pilgrims from here to Katchatheevu for the festival, which attracts devotees, especially fishermen, from both India and Sri Lanka.

Police also detained a woman for allegedly attempting to transport beedis and garments for sale at Katchatheevu.
Meanwhile, permission was denied to 23 persons, including a journalist, to proceed to Katchatheevu in view of pending criminal cases against them, officials said.
Around 4,000 people, including women and children, have registered themselves with authorities here for participating in the two-day festival, beginning this evening with the hoisting of the flag.

The pilgrims left for Katchatheevu in 110 boats accompanied by mechanised boat escort while Coast Guard would also keep a vigil in the sea.
Tahsildhar Jeeva Rekhsa and Commissioner of Rameswaram municipality Jayaramaraja oversaw the arrangements for the journey of pilgrims, who will return here by tomorrow evening.

Tight security arrangements were made in and around the harbour here from where the boats left and the luggage and other belongings of the pilgirms were thoroughly screened to prevent any smuggling of goods.