Five Tamil youth between the ages of 17 and 37 sought protection with security forces yesterday (April 19) at the Navy and Police manned fishing marshalling point in Pallaimunai, Mannar.

According to security forces, the youth including a female have fled from the non-liberated Illuppukadaweli area, a coastal fishing locality North of Viddaithalthivu on a locally built 'wallam' type boat.

Two youth have made their way in a similar type boat by paying Rs. 300,000 each for a human smuggler, sources further said.

"During the preliminary investigations, the five youth had revealed that they fled LTTE clutches to escape the LTTE's forcible recruitment, risking their lives and incurring heavy expenses" Naval sources were cited as saying.