Two more held in Tamil Nadu over LTTE links

The Tamil Nadu State 'Q' branch on Sunday arrested two more persons in connection with the alleged smuggling of computer spare parts and other items to Sri Lanka.

The special unit had on Saturday arrested one James belonging to Mannar, Sri Lanka and two others, including a Sea Tiger at the Chennai Airport.

The Superintendent of Police 'Q' branch, M.Ashok Kumar gave the names of the two arrested Pushpadhanaraj (43) and Boomi alias Boominathan (28), both of Rameswaram.

They had allegedly assisted James in the smuggling of computer spares, swimming pads and GPS equipment for the Tigers. Further investigations are on. An LTTE Sea Tiger and two others who had attempted to procure a boat for the outfit, were earlier arrested by the police in Chennai.

Police also seized Indian and Sri Lankan currency worth Rs 478,000 from them. A boat, kept ready at coastal Mallipattinam in Thanjavur district to be sent to the LTTE, was also seized, the Q branch of Chennai Police said.

The Tiger cadre was identified as Jayakumar (34) of Velvettithurai, Jaffna and his accomplices as James alias Raja (46) from Chinnakadai, Mannar and Ravikumar (42) a resident of Subbarayan Nagar, Choolaimedu, Tamil Nadu.

The trio were spotted at the parking lot of Anna International airport terminal on Saturday night.

When questioned on suspicion, Jayakumar, belonging to the naval wing of the LTTE, confessed that he had come to India clandestinely by a boat in February this year. On the instruction of LTTE 'naval wing' leader Susai, he had stayed in Thanjavur in March and had received Rs 480,000 from another LTTE man, Karuppaiah, residing in London.

With the money, he had procured a boat and handed it over to James to be sent to the LTTE.