CHENNAI: Nearly a week after the discovery of a lathe in the sea off Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district, authorities are probing the origin and destination of the machine which, it is said, could be used for manufacturing rocket launchers.

A senior official of Customs in Tiruchi, which seized the machine last Wednesday told The Hindu that before the department officials could reach the spot the lathe, attached to a long rope on a country boat, was found abandoned.

The officials had received a tip-off. They did not find any occupant on the boat. The authorities are probing the origin and destination of the lathe. It is possible that the lathe was meant for neighbouring Sri Lanka. It is a small machinery and not sophisticated.

"We have a strong presence along the coast and Coast Guard surveillance boats are active these days in view of the heightened security threat," the official said.

A senior police officer said the police had not received any report from the Customs department.

Police sources said the machine was found partially rusted. How it reached the sea was still not known. The matter was being investigated by Customs.

The manufacture of rocket shells and launchers in Chennai and their seizure in Andhra Pradesh had nothing to do with Sri Lanka or the LTTE, they said.

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