Attacks on Sri Lankans in TN :

India's Rights activists hit out

Say Sinhalese not anti-Tamil :

Attacks by fringe groups on Sri Lankans arriving in Tamil Nadu, in the name of protests against Human Rights violations against Sri Lankan Tamils, have drawn criticism from rights activists in the state.

At least five cases of attacks on visiting Lankans were reported in the state in the last one month. This is apart from the attack on Sri Lankan institutions in Tamil Nadu.

"I condemn such acts. Such kind of violence cannot be justified. These acts of terror against individuals should not be tolerated," said PUCL National General Secretary Dr V Suresh.

Echoing Suresh's views, another Human Rights activist, A Marx, said nothing could be gained by attacking visiting tourists and Buddhist monks. "While students are taking the protest in the right direction, some groups are indulging in violence," noted Marx. These violent groups fear that the students will push them out of the protest arena, he said, adding, "So, to stay in the picture, they indulge in violence, which is highly condemnable." Pointing out that all Sri Lankans of Sinhalese origin, are not anti- Tamil, Suresh said many Sinhalese human rights activists had been fighting for the Lankan Tamils' cause for years.

A senior official from Tamil Nadu police said almost all the accused in these cases had been arrested.

In connection with the attack on the Lankan monk on March 16 at Thanjavur, 12 persons were arrested.

"All the three persons connected with the attack on the Buddhist monk at Chennai central station on Monday, were secured," the official said. Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle