CHENNAI: Two more persons have been arrested by Tamil Nadu `Q' branch personnel in Mumbai in connection with the seizure of iron ball bearings in Chennai and Tuticorin, a few days ago.

A `Q' branch officer said Asghar Ali and Meeran Sahib of Mumbai, arrested on Monday night, would be brought to Tamil Nadu. Ali was alleged to have supplied the bearings. Meeran, who hails from Tamil Nadu but is settled in Mumbai, was working as an agent.

While two tonnes of ball bearings, kept in gunny bags, were seized at the Naval Hospital Road junction at Periamet here, another three tonnes were seized after a search of the residence of Pirabakaran alias Veluchamy at Tuticorin. The police suspect that the consignments were meant for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

While eight persons, including Sivakaran and Selvasenthan of Jaffna and Karan of Killinochi, were arrested in Chennai, Pirabakaran was arrested after his house was searched at Tuticorin.

Based on the information given by the arrested, a police team went to Mumbai and arrested the duo. Sivakaran, Selvasenthan, Karan and Pirabakaran have been remanded to police custody for eight days. In the wake of the seizure of ball bearings and boosters, a component for making bombs, near Manamadurai in November last year, the police were keeping a watch on "agents," since those in Sri Lanka could not indulge in such transactions without the help of people in Tamil Nadu. A gang was busted after the Manamadurai seizure, and three of its members were detained under the National Security Act.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail