Indian govt extends LTTE ban
The Indian government on Friday extended the ban on LTTE by another
two years following intelligence reports that remnants of the terror
outfit were trying to re-group in Tamil Nadu.
According to a notification issued by the Union Home Ministry, even
though LTTE has been “decimated in Sri Lanka, recent reports reveal that
remnant LTTE cadres and leaders are regrouping in Tamil Nadu”. The
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been banned since 1992 under the
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The outfit which was espousing the cause of a separate Tamil Eelam
was vanquished by the Sri Lankan military in May last year.
The notification said the possibility of its remnant cadres using
India and especially Tamil Nadu as a rear base for their re-grouping
activities cannot be ruled out.
It also said the possibility of their entering in the guise of Tamil
refugees also cannot be ruled out.
Sources said LTTE sympathisers were posing a security threat by
continuing to spread anti-India propaganda on the Internet accusing the
Indian leadership and its officialdom of being responsible for their
defeat.
They said activities of certain remnant cadres have been noticed in
Tamil Nadu and a extension of ban on LTTE was required. As per the
procedure, the notification will now reach a Tribunal, which has to
ratify it.
The group-led by V Prabhakaran had been proscribed as a terrorist
organisation by several countries including the United States. The LTTE
was involved in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi
in May 1991 following which it was banned in India in 1992 (Courtesy
Times of India) |