The Hindu : National : India orders return of 8 Sri Lankan airmen

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India orders return of 8 Sri Lankan airmen

Special Correspondent

Move follows Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s request

CHENNAI: India on Tuesday ordered the return of eight Sri Lankan Air Force men from the Air Force Station at Tambaram here.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who came to know of their arrival after they approached the Selaiyur police station for signing in a register, directed the Chief Secretary to bring this to the notice of the Union government and wanted the eight sent back.

The Centre, accepting the Chief Minister’s request to send them back, ordered their return. The airmen, all aged about 18 and 19, recently passed out of the Tambaram Air Station. They had returned to complete the formalities and some paperwork, an IAF officer told The Hindu.

He pointed out that the IAF, especially the Tambaram station, provided training to youth of friendly countries just like other defence training establishments, including the Officers’ Training Academy at St. Thomas Mount here. The friendly countries included Sri Lanka and other member-nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement.

“Nothing alarming”

The officer said there was nothing alarming or secret about the arrival of the Sri Lankan youth. They went to the police station only to enter their names in the register as part of procedure.

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