Arms supply to Lanka: CCSTEL warns of 'dire consequences''

Chennai, Dec 8 (UNI) Expressing shock over reports that ammunition were being supplied to the Sri Lankan Army from India, the Co-ordination Committee of Supporters of Tamil Eelam Liberation (CCSTEL) today warned of ''dire consequences'' if the Centre continued to help Colombo.

In a statement here, CCSTEL Convener P Nedumaran cited reports that police personnel stumbled upon 40 boxes of ammunition, meant for the shipment to island nation, during a routine vehicle check near Melur in Madurai district yesterday. ''This has shocked people of Tamil Nadu,'' he said.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given assurance several times that India would not supply arms and ammunition to the Lankan Army. ''However, it has now come to light that the ammunition are being shipped to the island nation through the Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu,'' he added.

Mr Nedumaran said it was further shocking to note that the police had sent consignments to the Tuticorin Port instead of seizing them.

It was highly condemnable that the incident had occurred on the day the state Assembly adopted a resolution seeking the Centre's intervention in the Sri Lankan issue, he said.

Stating that the Centre's intervention in the issue was only in the way of supplying arms to the Lankan Army to help them kill Eelam Tamils, Mr Nedumaran warned of ''dire consequences'' if the Centre did not immediately stop aiding the island nation.

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