LTTE Intelligence Wing member, 7 others arrested

Chennai, Jan 17 (UNI) A member of the Intelligence Wing of the banned LTTE and seven others, all Sri Lankan Nationals, were arrested by the ''Q'' Branch Police at suburban Madipakkam last night.

An official release here this evening said the arrested people were staying in the city on a mission to clandestinely supply essentials and provide intelligence inputs to the LTTE, which was at the receiving end following increasing hostilities between the outfit and the Sri Lankan Military.

Among those arrested was LTTE Intelligence Wing Member Nathan alias Surali alias Thambidurai Parameswaran, hailing from Jaffna.

Others arrested were Joseph Alentine Regan alias Regan, Kesavan, Ganesh Anand alias Anand, Aravindan alias Susalaraj, Paris alias Paris Raj, Sudanan alias Sudarsan and Akilan alias Padmaraj.

Acting on a tip off, a team of officials from the ''Q'' Branch police, dealing with cases related to terrorism, extremism and naxalism, raided a house and effected the arrest.

One version said they were arrested for allegedly overstaying after expiry of the travel documents.

Another said the arrests were a follow-up to the nabbing of four persons--three suspected LTTE militants and a Chennai-based Ayya Kannu-- by the Delhi Police from a hotel in Pahar Ganj area in Central Delhi yesterday.

Today's arrests were reportedly made based on the interrogation of Ayya Kannu.

The arrested members were produced before a court which remanded them in judicial custody. They were later lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.

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