The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : DMK soft on LTTE: Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 04, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

DMK soft on LTTE: Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

Policy note on police demands betrays "tacit support"

CHENNAI: All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on Thursday accused the DMK Government of being soft on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and its activities.

In a statement here, she said the policy note on the Tamil Nadu Police demands at different places mentioned about the seizure of electric detonators, explosive boosters, iron balls, AK 56 rifles and ammunition from "Sri Lankan Tamils."

Though people in the country were well aware that LTTE men were involved in such smuggling activities, the Government described them as "Sri Lankan Tamils."

The description betrayed the Government's "tacit support" to the LTTE.

It had been pointed out in the note that during routine patrolling, the Coast Guard intercepted a mechanised boat near the Palk Strait on February 13 and arrested five persons, including four Sri Lankan Tamils.

The Coast Guard also seized from them an AK 56 rifle, 124 rounds, five hand grenades, one explosive-filled jacket, eight barrels of chemical substances and a satellite phone. Bags containing ration articles were also seized.

She referred to the note, which said that following sustained interrogation of the accused by the `Q' Branch, it came to light that powerful explosives were concealed inside the fibre plates of the seized boat.

After obtaining permission from the court, the boat was towed to the deep sea and the explosives were defused.

In the process, the boat got destroyed and sank on February 20.

Persons who smuggled such lethal weapons could not be innocent Tamils, Ms. Jayalalithaa said. None other than LTTE militants could indulge in such activities.

Though Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi told the Assembly that the Government would never support the LTTE, the information available in the policy note was sufficient to prove that the Government was soft on the militant outfit.

"Grave threat"

"This approach poses a grave threat to Tamil Nadu and it is highly condemnable."

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

Tamil Nadu