'TN turning into arms haven'

Alleging large scale infiltration of the outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) into Tamil Nadu, the opposition AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa yesterday said the state was "fast turning into an arms godown" from haven of peace and demanded the dismissal of the DMK Government.

In a statement, Jayalalithaa, referring to the recent arrest of seven LTTE militants, who were involved in the conspiracy to eliminate EPRLF leader Varadaraja Perumal, said this showed how the state has become a haven for terrorist and extremist elements.

The state "Q" branch police, dealing with extremists and terrorists, were arresting LTTE men everyday and this showed how deeply they had infiltrated into the state, she charged.

As the state has become an "arms godown", people in the state are insecure, she alleged and wanted Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to own moral responsibility for the growth of naxal activities and the threat posed by the LTTE in the state.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Assembly's session beginning today is expected to be stormy with the main opposition AIADMK ready to step up its attack on the DMK government on several issues, including its allegation that LTTE is being allowed to regroup in the state.

The session, beginning with the customary address by Governor S S Barnala, may be a short one lasting only for five or six days, official sources said. The recent arrest of LTTE intelligence wing member Thambidurai and nine of his associates is set to come up for discussions as both the AIADMK and DMK's ally Congress are expected to raise the issue.

The Congress has gone on record that it would not "forgive" the LTTE for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.