Centre looking into shipment of explosives: MK

Chennai, Dec 9 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said the Centre was looking into the reported transhipment of explosives for the Lankan Navy from Nagpur to Colombo via Tuticorin Port.

An official release here said the Chief Minister took up the matter with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee through Union IT and Comunications Minister Dayanindhi Maran and also met Defence Minister A K Antony following concerns raised by PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss and Convenor of Coordination Committee of Supporters of Tamil Eelam P Nedumaran.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee told Mr Maran that no official order had been given in this regard and said the government would look into it immediately.

Similar views were expressed by Mr Antony, when Mr Karunanidhi met him and informed about the transhipment of explosives to Colombo.

Following the Centre's reply, Mr Karunanidhi also directed the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police to find out whether the explosives transhipment was part of any comemrcial deal struck without the knowledge of the government.

Police stumbled upon the consignment of explosives at Melur near Madurai when they intercepted a container at a checkpost.

They found explosive materials, including detonating caps, worth more than Rs four lakh.

Verification of the documents revealed that the consignment was for export with duty exemption to the Lankan Navy. After checking the invoice and cross verification with the destination point, police found nothing illegal and cleared the consignment.

Reacting to this, Dr Ramadoss and Mr Nedumaran said the explosive transhipment ran counter to the Centre's assurance that India would not provide any military or arms assistance to Sri Lanka and feared that it would be used against the Tamils.

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