"Such acts of trying to flee to countries like Australia was a punishable offence including serving jail term for up to two years", Coastal Security Group ADGP C Sylendra Babu today said, referring to a recent incident in which 120 Sri Lankan Tamils who were trying to flee to Australia on a mechanised fishing trawler from Tamil Nadu coast were rescued mid-sea.
It was not possible to carry over 100 persons on mechanised trawler which does not have basic facilities besides food, water or even toilets, he said. "Such journey poses great danger to people which sometimes leads to death".