Bid to smuggle goods for LTTE foiled

Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, Jun 14: In a pre-dawn operation, Intelligence officials foiled a bid to smuggle large quantity of batteries, beedi bundles and clothes, meant for the LTTE, and arrested a Lankan national at Devipattinam here today.

An official of the state 'Q' branch police told UNI that a special team of the wing, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mahendran, cordoned off the Devipattinam seashore, where Lankan national Vijay was loading the consignment fibreglass boat with the help of a group of local fishermen, Sri Lankan nationals and LTTE sympathisers. The consignment contained 18,000 batteries, six beedi bundles and 24 bundles of finished and unfinished clothes.

On spotting the police team, except Vijay, all others managed to dive into the sea and escape under the cover of darkness.

The intelligence team arrested Vijay and seized the consignment and the hi-speed fibreglass boat.

A massive hunt is on by the intelligence officials with the coordination of local police to nab the escaped people.

UNI