A family of six Eelam Tamil have fled Mannar to arrive at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, where they are being held at the Police Station and having their statements recorded by the Indian police.
It is learnt that the family undertook a journey by boat to arrive in Rameswaram on Tuesday (4). The family of six includes three children along with their parents. The family is seeking asylum in Tamil Nadu over the economic hardships that they are facing in Sri Lanka.
In April this year, two more such families sought refuge in Tamil Nadu. Their stories can be found here and here.
Tamil Nadu has seen an increase in the influx of Eelam Tamil refugees arriving in India over the last few months. According to a recent report submitted to the government in India, as of 2023, 58,200 Tamil refugees were living in 104 camps across Tamil Nadu, and over 33,200 of them were living outside the camps.
The majority of refugees in India are Tamils who have fled during the war and many have lived in India for over 30 years. Despite this they lack citizenship rights and continue to languish in squalid refugee camps with no access to health services or civic rights.
