A Chennai-based Sri Lankan Tamil refugee has been arrested on charges of planning trafficking of more than 50 Sri Lankan Tamils, some of them from refugee camps in the state, to Australia, the police said today.

Chandrakanthan, 38, was arrested yesterday by the 'Q' branch police for bringing them to Courttalam near Tirunelveli from various parts of the state to send them illegally to Australia for employment.

Cases under various sections of IPC and Foreigners Act were registered against him, the police said.

Following a tip-off,police conducted a search at a lodge where the group was staying at Courttallam and "secured" 53 Lankan Tamils,including nine woman and five children.

Some of them told the police that they had promised to give Rs three lakh to Chandrakanthan for taking them to Australia and paid an advance of Rs10,000.

Of the 53 persons, 23 had recently come to Chennai on tourist visas from Sri Lanka while an equal number were from various non-refugee camps in the state. Seven others were residing in refugee camps, police said.

'Q' branch police after questioning them handed over to local police for further investigation. Some of them would be taken to Mandapam refugee camp, where their documents could be verified, the police said. (PTI)