Vain bid to quiz MDMK leader over LTTE 'link'

Chennai, Mar 20 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu ''Q'' branch police, dealing with cases relating to terrorists and extremists, today made a vain atte,pt to question MDMK Organising-Secretary Sameer Basheer in connection with the alleged hawala transactions and supply of arms to the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Police sources said when the Q branch team went to question Mr Basheer, based on informations provided by a suspect at his residence at Mannadi in North Chennai, his brother advocate Mustafa told them that they would extend their cooperation only after consulting party leader and advocate K S Radhakrishnan.

After arguments and counter arguments, Mr Mustafa promised to subject Mr Basheer for questioning at the Q branch headquarters after consulting Mr Radhakrishnan.

While moving toward Q branch headquarters, Mr Mustafa gave a slip to police and took him straight to Mr Radhkrishnan's residence.

After Mr Mustafa and the Basheer arrived at his residence, Mr Radhakrishnan met a senior ''Q'' branch official and promised to cooperate with the investigating agency, police said.

Sources said the Q branch wanted to question Mr Basheer, who had unsuccessfuly contested against DMK General-Secretary K Anbazhagan in the last assembly elections from Harbour constituency, in connection with alleged hawala transactions and clandestine supply of ball bearings to the LTTE.

When contacted, the MDMK leader told UNI that there was not an iota of truth. ''It's politically motivated...I am a law abiding citizen...the whole thing is politically motivated''.

UNI