The allegation was made by the relatives at a recent meeting in Kilinochchi with visiting UN working group on enforced and involuntary disappearances.

One man said he was relieved of Rs. 130,000 by promising information about his two missing sons.

The two, Jenaraj aged 26 and 19-year-old Lokaraj, had been fishing at sea on 01 April, 2009, when they were taken away by the Navy, he said, adding that nothing has been heard about them since.

An ex-LTTE member claiming to be a military intelligence member now, has extorted the money, according to him.

Commenting on this, convener of relatives of missing persons association Britto Fernando told Sri Lanka Mirror that similar incidents had taken place in Mannar, Jaffna, Trincomalee and other districts.

They could be persons who use covers as intelligence and police officers to extort money, he said.