The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Iron balls seizure case: role of separate group suspected

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 09, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Iron balls seizure case: role of separate group suspected

K.T. Sangameswaran

Iron balls seizure case

CHENNAI: The arrest of three more persons, including two Sri Lankan nationals, in Chennai has raised suspicion that a separate group is involved in smuggling iron balls to Sri Lanka.

A `Q' Branch police officer gave the names of the three as Hidayathullah of Mannadi here and the Sri Lankans Bagirathan and Pradeepan, who were staying at Pozhichalur on the city's outskirts. They were arrested on Wednesday and remanded to judicial custody.

Initially, Arulseelan, a Sri Lankan Tamil, was arrested at Tiruchi. Based on the information provided by him, Rahul, another Sri Lankan, was arrested. About 4.5 tonnes of iron balls meant for Sri Lanka, kept in a house at Venkateswara Nagar in Perambalur, was seized.

It was alleged that Rahul had given Rs.10 lakh to Arulseelan, which was seized by the police. The officer said Hidayathullah was believed to have given the money to Rahul through Bagirathan and Pradeepan.

It was not immediately known as to whether the money was meant for making payment for any earlier purchase of iron balls or procuring a new consignment. The police are looking out for Ramesh Kumar in whose house the iron balls were kept. The origin of the consignment was unknown.

In January this year, the special unit seized five tonnes of iron balls from a car and a van at Periamet here, and a house at Tuticorin. Investigations revealed that the material had been brought from Dadar, Mumbai, by road to Chennai for onward transportation to Sri Lanka via Tuticorin. Subsequently, another 2.5 tonnes of the material was seized. Twelve persons, including 5 Sri Lankan Tamils, were arrested.

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