'Centre looking into shipment of explosives'

Chennai, Dec 9: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today saidthe Centre was looking into the reported transhipment of explosives forthe Lankan Navy from Nagpur to Colombo via Tuticorin Port.

An official release here said the Chief Minister took up thematter with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee through Union ITand Comunications Minister Dayanindhi Maran and also met DefenceMinister A K Antony following concerns raised by PMK Founder Dr SRamadoss and Convenor of Coordination Committee of Supporters of TamilEelam P Nedumaran.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee told Mr Maran that no official order had beengiven in this regard and said the government would look into itimmediately.

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

Following the Centre's reply, Mr Karunanidhi also directed theTamil Nadu Director General of Police to find out whether theexplosives transhipment was part of any comemrcial deal struck withoutthe 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 wasfor export with duty exemption to the Lankan Navy. After checking theinvoice and cross verification with the destination point, police foundnothing illegal and cleared the consignment.

Reacting to this, Dr Ramadoss and Mr Nedumaran said the explosivetranshipment ran counter to the Centre's assurance that India would notprovide any military or arms assistance to Sri Lanka and feared that itwould be used against the Tamils.

UNI