Sea Tigers may have entered Tamil Nadu

A boat was washed ashore at Rameswaram on Saturday with markings indicating that it was from Sri Lanka.

Police personnel in Rameswaram have expressed doubts that the boat may have been used by LTTE men to enter Tamil Nadu.

Local fishermen informed the Temple police in Rameswaram that a Sri Lankan boat had been washed ashore near Cherankottai and a team led by inspector Muthukumar seized the boat.When they searched the boat, the police found diving equipment, cylinders, 100 litre diesel container, gloves, a bag and a fisherman’s identity card from Mannar.

Superintendent of Police Senthilvelan and officers from the intelligence unit inspected the boat and also questioned the fishermen of Cherankottai.

Intelligence unit personnel suspect that four to seven Sea Tiger cadres from Nachikuda or Nedunthivu may have entered the State by using the boat belonging to fishermen of Mannar or Pesalai.The thermo cylinders found in the boat could enable a person to remain under sea for an hour, intelligence officers said.

Police said, to prevent LTTE men from escaping, they have intensified search of vehicles leaving here for the main land.

All checkposts in the district have also been alerted. Express News Service