Two more arrested for helping banned LTTE

Chennai, Dec 11 (UNI) Close on the heels of arrest of three people, including an ex-cadre of Sea Tigers, the marine wing of the LTTE, the ''Q'' Branch police have arrested two more people for helping the banned outfit in smuggling goods.

Police sources said Pushpak Dhanraj (43) and Boomi alias Boominathan, hailing from Ramanathapuram, were arrested at Mallipatnam near Thanjavur on Sunday night.

They were brought here, produced before a Magistrate Court last evening and remanded in judicial custody.

On interrogation, they confessed that they had assisted former cadre of Sea Tigers, Jayakumar (34) in smuggling computer hardware components to LTTE through the coast.

The officials also seized a boat purchased by Jayakumar and two others, who were arrested on the night of December eight at Chennai airport, meant for the banned LTTE.

It may be recalled that the Special Unit personnel of the ''Q'' Branch police had arrested James alias Raja (46), hailing from Chinnakadai, Mannar, Sri Lanka, Jayakumar alias Gaurishankar of Jaffna and Ravikumar (42) from Chennai.

Ravikumar had helped James in the purchase of essential items for the LTTE.

During questioning Jayakumar said he was a former member of the 'Sea Tiger' and had illegally come to India in February this year.

James, who had thrice visited India this year, came to Chennai in October, and had smuggled computer spare parts, swimming pads and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment for the LTTE by concealing them in beedi bundles.

The officials also seized Indian currency to the tune of Rs 4.78 lakhs and 4,140 Sri Lankan Rupees from him. and four mobile phones from the three arrested members.

The officials said the cash of Rs 4.78 lakh was meant for purchasing a boat for the LTTE from a person called Raji.

Jayakumar had told the police that he was in the 'Sea Tigers' from 1995 to 2006. He left the wing and came to India at the instance of LTTE marine wing leader, Susai, and had stayed in Thanjavur in March.

Later, through Susai and an LTTE leader, Karuppiah of London, he got Rs 4.80 lakh for purchasing a boat for the Tigers. The boat was scheduled to be handed over to James, when he, along with two others, were arrested by the police at airport.

Their confession led to the arrest of two more people for assisting them in smuggling goods to LTTE.

UNI