Captured Sea Tigers in Tamil Nadu confess to spying in Lanka

TAMIL NADU: The arrested three LTTE Sea Tiger cadres in Tamil Nadu have revealed that they were operating from various locations in Sri Lanka collecting information on confidential plans and combat preparations of the Sri Lankan Navy to LTTE leadership, Indian newspapers reported yesterday.

With the recent arrests of the Sea Tigers posing as refugees, the Tamil Nadu police has intensified operations to apprehend any such imposters in the refugee camps and suburban areas.

The news reports, quoting a Tamil Nadu Police officer, stated that it seems the LTTE wanted to ‘read the moods of the security force personnel, the preparedness and activities of the security agencies, loopholes in the existing set-up and chances of establishing new networks.’

The Q branch of the LTTE of Tamil Nadu Police arrested three LTTE Sea Tigers posing as refugees at the Mandapam Transit camp in Rameshwaran in Ramanathapuram, in South India, on April 9.

The suspects were identified as Devajotheeswaran (24), Sugandan (22) and Justin Raj (23). Interrogations revealed they were members of the LTTE’s so-called ‘intelligence’ wing.

The three cadres were arrested by the TN police based on tips from other refugees in the camp who suspected their coded communications. The cadres have communicated with their Jaffna leaders using coded-language.

The Police told media that they will not rule out the presence of some more members equal to the arrested cadres and they are on the look out to apprehend them.

The Hindu reported the timing of the arrival of LTTE intelligence cadres to Tamil Nadu is significant in the background of Indian efforts to bust illegal arms smuggling to Sri Lanka.