A family of three refugees, including a child, is on an indefinite fast seeking release amidst fear of getting deported to Sri Lanka.

Dayanraj (35) lodged in the Special Refugees Camp at Tiruchi,his wife Udayakala (32) and daughter Dhilsiya (4) housed in Mandapam refugees camp are on fast since Thursday. The family is demanding the release of Dayanraj, who has been in the special camp for about a year, police sources said on Sunday.According to a senior police official, Dayanraj is likely to be deported to Sri Lanka where he is wanted in a few criminal cases.

“If released from the special camp, he is likely to escape from the purview of law-enforcing agencies,” he said, parrying questions on whether Dayanraj was a former cadre of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

It is believed that as many as one lakh Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are living in camps or outside in the State. At least 19 refugees are lodged in the special camp at Tiruchi charges of specific offences. Besides, a large number of refugees who managed to reach Tamil Nadu through various means are living in various locations without registering with the competent authority. They constantly make attempts, along with registered refugees, to reach countries like Australia, France, Canada and Switzerland, the sources added.

Refuting allegations of some rights organisations that refugees were detained in special camps on fake cases only to sustain the operations of the ‘Q’ Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu police, the official said all special camps were closed, except the one in Tiruchi.

(The Hindu)