India expresses deep concerns over seizure of lethal LTTE cargo

Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

The Defence Minister Anthony and National Security Advisor Narayanan have expressed major concerns over the recent seizure of lethal LTTE cargo in Tamil Nadu, states reports from the neighboring shores of India.

Further the Chennai based media have reported that Defence Minister Mr. A.K. Anthony had stated that the recent seizures of arms, ammunitions, suicide kit and other lethal and illegal consignments for the LTTE was only the "tip of the iceberg". It would be recalled that this Mission in its Report dated 15th February 2007, had already predicted that these hauls were also just the tip of the iceberg involving a larger network by the LTTE.

Defence Minister Anthony is further reported to have warned that there were "lurking dangers" along the coast. In reply to a question on the incident involving a suspected LTTE boat, he is reported to have said that "it is not only Chennai; it could just be the tip of the iceberg. There could be similar incidents at sea; there could be many other instances which go unreported."

The report said that the Minister had stated that constant vigil was required to secure the long coastline and territorial waters, and had added that "hereafter" surveillance of the coast will be the top most priority of the Coast Guard and the Navy" and assured that upgrading and enhancement of the coastal surveillance infrastructure by providing bigger ships, more modern equipment and training facilities would be a priority.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Mr. M.K. Narayanan in an interview published in Chennai based media has stated that the Indian Government was taking utmost care is examining this issue. He said many aspects connected to security including areas in which extra attention should be focused, will be examined at the level of the Central Government, the Tamil Nadu Government will also be consulted.

When he was asked if the Government of Sri Lanka would be requested to coordinate any action, he is reported to have stated that based the Government, but consultations would be taken promptly on an internal level by the Government in the future if the need arose.

In a connected development, media reports have stated that the Special Narcoties cell of the Customs at mandapam on 18th Feburary 2007 had arrested one Mr. Balan in connection with the seizures of arms and ammunition bond for Sri lanka in Tamil Nadu. Reported to be a native of Kayts Island in Jaffna and a Naturalised American citizen, he had been arrested him at gun point and is suspected to be a kingpin of smuggling in the region and one of the coordinators of the arms network in Tamil Nadu.

He is reported to have been staying secretively in the district for the past two months.

The recent developments strongly suggest that despite the statement made by the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police, the Central Government has taken the matter seriously and will take necessary preventive measures to thwart operations and activities of the LTTE as their activities in any part of India would have wider implications to the internal security of the whole of India.