Aug 19, Colombo: In a second such incident within a week, the Q-branch of the Tamil Nadu police on Thursday night had rescued 30 Sri Lankan Tamils who were being taken by a gang of human traffickers.

The police acting on a tip had intercepted a vehicle carrying the 30 Sri Lankans at Vandalur in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu state and taken them into custody. However, the traffickers have managed to flee, the police had said.

According to the police, the Sri Lankans were to board a ferry from the port city of Mamallapuram to be taken to Christmas Island near Australia.

Indian media reported that each person has paid more than 50,000 to 100,000 Indian rupees to the traffickers for their passage to Australia.

Earlier last week the police rescued 23 Sri Lankan Tamils and arrested 5 suspected human traffickers. The 23 Tamils have been sent to the respective refugee camps where they lived before the incident.