Six LTTE cadres nabbed in Paris for cop's murder

French police arrested six Sri Lankan Tamils including a woman in connection with the murder of a French policeman on Saturday night. The 33-year old policeman was killed when he questioned a group of LTTE cadres who were collecting funds at Tamil-dominated La Courneuve area in the French capital.

Police said that the group grabbed the policeman and used his own pistol to kill him.

The murder weapon was later found hidden in a dustbin at the residence of one Kandiah, a fund-collector of the LTTE. The incident has taken place near the residence of Mehtha, LTTE leader in Paris, who is in police custody since April, 2007.

Police said that the six Tamil suspects are being interrogated to ascertain their criminal activities in support of the proscribed terrorist organization.

Meanwhile French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that killing of a policeman was a very serious incident and the law and order machinery would take stern action against the culprits.

He made this remark when the incident of killing of a French policeman by a Tamil gang was raised at a television discussion on Sunday night.

Since April 2007, half a dozen LTTE cadres have been detained in France. Earlier 19 LTTE cadres were arrested, but several of them were later released on conditional bail.

Earlier this month, another six LTTE cadres were detained by police after they damaged a car belonging to the Indian Embassy during a demonstration in front of the Embassy.