Two detained under NSA: 4.5 tonnes iron balls seized

Chennai, Apr 22 (UNI) The Q Branch police, dealing with the cases of seizure of ball bearings meant for smuggling for the banned LTTE in Sri Lanka, have detained two more people under the National Security Act (NSA).

Police sources said the duo - Sivakumar of Palladam in Coimbatore amd Sukumar of Thrisoolam in Chennai - who were arrested in connection with the recent seizure of 4.5 tonnes iron balls from the house of an engineer Ramesh Kumar at Perambalur, have been detained under the NSA.

With this 11 of the 14 people, arrested in connection with the ball bearings case, were detained under the NSA.

The Q Branch police have spread a dragnet to nab two key accused, Jayaraman of Tondi in Ramanathapuram district, and Satish of Sri Lanka, who were the masterminds behind this illegal transaction.

Prior to the seizure of iron balls from the house of Ramesh Kumar, who had subsequently surrendered before a court in the city, one consignment of ironballs was smuggled to the island nation by Satish.

The police had stumbled upon the iron ball smuggling racket, while questioning a Sri Lankan Tamil Arulseelan, from whom Rs ten lakh hawala money was seized in Trichy. His arrest led to the seizure of iron balls at Perambalur.

UNI