Thursday, January 12 2006 18:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rameswaram (TN): For the first time after hostilities broke out between the Sri Lankan Army and suspected Tamil Tiger rebels on Jan 7 off Trincomalee, a batch of 24 refugees from the island nation arrived at Dhanushkodi coast here today (Jan 12,2006), a top police official said.

The refugees include eight men, seven women and nine children. Elaborate arrangements had already been made to receive them and accomodate them at the Mandapam Camp, said J Rajendran, Superintendent of Police.

Fifteen Sri Lankan sailors were killed on Jan 7 when suspected Tamil Tiger rebels blew up a naval gunboat near Trincomalee in a pre-dawn attack.

Speaking to sources, Mallika and Regina, two women refugees, alleged that the Sri Lankan army was bombing residential areas and they had no option but to flee their homes. Five of their relatives were injured in the bombings yesterday, they said.

The two said they had to stay in jungle for a long time before fleeing the island nation and that they had paid Rs 5,000 per head for being ferried to India.

They also charged Sri Lankan armymen with torturing those they had taken into custody.