LTTE behind abduction of fishermen: Karunanidhi

Chennai, May 4: Asserting that the banned LTTE was involved in the killing and abduction of Indian fishermen, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said his government would make all efforts to secure the release of the 12 fishermen abducted by the militant outfit.

Replying to a special call attention motion tabled by various political parties in the state Assembly, he reiterated that based on the information received from intelligence, he had said that the banned outfit was involved in the killing of Indian fishermen and the abduction of 12 fishermen, ten from Kanniyakumari and one each from Tuticorin and Kerala.

''I don't want to prove a point that they are not the LTTE, and I do not want to charge them either as LTTE and punish them'', he added.

''I only shared the reliable information received from Intelligence in the House. This is the situation'', Mr Karunanidhi said and added that efforts to secure the release of the abducted fishermen were continuing.

''The government will not go back on it and will strive to secure the release of the fishermen housed in LTTE camps'', he said.

On the steps being taken by his government for securing the release of the fishermen, he said he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to direct the Indian High Commission in Colombo to do the needful immediately trough the External Affairs Ministry.

In his letter to Dr Singh on May 2, Mr Karunanidhi said according to investigations by the state police, the 12 missing fishermen, who had set out to sea on March four this year, were in the custody of the LTTE. He said on April 11, the Indian Coast Guard secured six Sri Lankan Tamils along with the boat ''Maria'', stranded in mid sea due to a technical snag in the engine.

Interrogation of the six lankan Tamils revealed that they belonged to the LTTE's sea tiger wing and that the boat ''Maria'' was the same which was earlier involved in the killing of five fishermen from Kanniyakumari in Indian territorial waters on March 29. They also revealed that the 12 fishermen were abducted and kept in the custody of the LTTE in one of their camps.

Stating that these developments were the subject of serious discussion in the state Assembly on April 28, he said the members have expressed their concern and wanted the Centre to take a serious view of these incidents.

He also urged the Centre to take all possible measures, including effective sea surveillance, though the immediate task was to retrieve the 12 fishermen from the custody of the LTTE.

Referring to MDMK General Secretary Vaiko's statement that the police was trying to blame the LTTE for these incidents, the Chief Minister said he and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa shared a similar view on the issue. ''The AIADMK leader had in her statement yesterday criticised me for stating that Sri Lankan Tamils were involved in the recent seizure of explosive materials and iron ball bearings and clearly spoke about the LTTE's involvement'', he recalled.

Mr Karunanidhi read out this portion from her statement after MDMK leader M Kannappan, speaking on the motion, said Mr Vaiko's remarks were made in the backdrop of a denial issued by the LTTE about their involvement in the killing and abduction of fishermen.

Earlier, moving the motion, Mr D Jayakumar (AIADMK) wanted the Chief Minister to clarify the position and the steps being taken by his government to secure the release of the abducted fishermen.

Mr C Gnanasekaran (Cong) took a dig at Mr Vaiko for blaming the LTTE for the incidents and demanded a ban on the MDMK for his open support to the militant outfit.

Observing that the AIADMK, instead of condemning its ally the MDMK for such remarks, was trying to divert the issue, he also charged Mr Vaiko of sending secret signals against the release of the fishermen.

Countering his remark, Mr Kannappan explained on what basis Mr Vaiko had made the remark and said the MDMK would not support any forces that act against the interests of fishermen. ''The MDMK will not betray the interests of Indian fishermen'', he added.

Mr Ravikumar (DPI) said the retrieval of Katchatheevu was the only solution to prevent such incidents, Mr Sivapunniyam (CPI) wanted the Centre to identify those involved in the incidents, whether it was the LTTE or a group opposed to the LTTE or the Lankan Military.

UNI