The Coast Guard authorities handed over the refugees hailing from Kilinochi to the Rameswaram police, who, after interrogation, lodged them in the special camp at Mandapam.

The refugees told newspersons that they paid Rs 7,000 each to the boat owner to come to India in the wake of fierce fighting between the Sri Lankan defence forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Police seized the boat and registered cases against the two, Seenipillai (42) and Velupillai (32).