IN SEARCH OF SAFETY: Sri Lankan refugees at the Mandapam refugee camp on Monday. — Photo: K. Ganesan

RAMESWARAM: Sri Lankan refugees alleged on Monday that the Sri Lankan Navy torched more than 35 boats based at Paysalai and Mannar to prevent the Tamils from taking refuge in Tamil Nadu.

The arrival of refugees has come down drastically over the last two days after the Sri Lankan Navy's crackdown on rebels at Mannar and Paysalai two days ago. Several civilians are also believed to have been killed in the attack.

According to information reaching here from Mannar district, hundreds of refugees, who were waiting along the coast to find boats to reach Tamil Nadu, have disbursed following the crackdown. Those staying in schools and churches also fled the scene fearing further action from the Sri Lankan Navy.

However, 10 persons belonging to five families managed to reach here on Sunday evening. "We were staying in a church and a school for the last 15 days to find boats to come to India. Despite of our best efforts, we could not fix boats as the Lankan Navy arrested most of the drivers operating from Mannar and Paysalai with the aim of preventing the refugees from coming to India. It will be very difficult for the refugees to find boats, as the Lankan Navy torched most of the boats belonging to Tamils," said Darshina Kala (34) of Trincomalee.

Indiscriminate attack

"The offensive of the Navy began on Friday night itself. A handful of Navy troopers attacked Tamils indiscriminately without any reason. We left the school, where we were staying, and went inside a jungle following grenade attacks against Tamils. It was unfortunate that innocent Tamils are being targeted whenever the Sri Lankan Army or the Navy suffer loses," said 61-year-old Mariam Bevi of Selvanayakapuram.

"International communities should not be mute spectators when innocent people are targeted in the name of taking action against LTTE. The Sri Lankan Navy's excesses are on the rise. They are not even sparing those, who want to take refuge in Tamil Nadu," said 21-year-old Dharshini of Mannar.

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