Tamil Nadu Police crackdown on LTTE supporters

Durga NANDINI

Tamil Nadu police have taken a stern view of LTTE sympathisers in the State, reports from India said.

They have warned supporters against showing solidarity of any kind with the Tigers, issuing an advertisement in newspapers warning against holding rallies, meetings or any other action that would appear to support the LTTE.

After LTTE political wing leader Thamilselvan was killed in an Air Force raid earlier this month, the State saw rallies on the streets with MDMK leader Vaiko leading the demonstration to pay homage to Thamilselvan. Vaiko and Nedumaran were arrested.

Such support for a LTTE leader has made the Tamil Nadu police sit up. They have now put out an advertisement directing all parties to stop showing solidarity with the LTTE.

According to the notice, any action supporting banned organisations including the LTTE - by individuals or organisations - will be punished.

The advertisement says rallies, condolence meetings or any other action supporting banned organisations by individuals or organisations will be punishable under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

A day after Tamil Nadu police issued a stern warning against those organising demonstrations in support of banned outfits, the Union Territory of Pondicherry followed the suit by issuing a similar notification cautioning the public.

The notification issued by the Pondicherry Police Department stated that stern action would be taken against organisations and individuals holding any type of procession or meeting in support of banned outfits. Action would also be taken against printers of pamphlets relating to the meetings and demonstrations, it said.

Tamil Nadu police had published an advertisement in newspapers last week warning action against those taking out rallies and holding meetings in support of banned outfits. Even those who make the posters and banners will also be punished.

The advertisement came in the wake of rallies and meetings being held condoling the death of LTTE’s political wing leader Thamilselvan in an Air Force raid. Following the death, Karunanidhi had written a poem eulogising the slain leader, which sparked off a controversy with opposition AIADMK leader Jayalalitha demanding the dismissal of the DMK Ministry for praising the leader of a banned outfit.

The AICC session at New Delhi on November 17 last had passed a resolution that any support to LTTE was bound to hurt the sentiments of Congressmen.

Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader in Tamil Nadu has alleged that LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran could be responsible for the recent killing of the outfit’s political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan in a Sri Lankan Air Force raid.

Former Union Minister S. R. Balasubramaniam told a press conference in Chennai that Thamilselvan was provided security by Prabhakaran on par with the LTTE chief himself.

“The slain leader’s movements were kept secret. Under such a circumstance, how could Sri Lankan military know about Thamilselvan’s arrival at a particular spot,” he asked.

“Thamilselvan’s visit to the spot was deliberately leaked out, leading to his killing in the air raid,” he alleged.

He said the Congress never endorsed any support to the LTTE in Tamil Nadu and would vehemently oppose any backing to the banned terrorist organisation.