Tamil Nadu police busts LTTE procurement network

Chennai, July 24 : The Q Branch of the Tamil Nadu police busted a major Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) procurement network when it arrested three persons, including a Sri Lankan from Manalmelkudi in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.

The three arrested persons were Kumargurubaran (28) a resident of Chennai, Ramesh (37) hailing from Ramanathapuram, and Manamohan (28) from Pesalai, Sri Lanka.

According to the police, Manamohan was the key player in this procurement network, coordinating the operation.

"He (Manmohan) arranged for the payment and coordinated the procurement. The seized motors are worth around Rs. 7 lakhs in the market," a police official said and added that Ramesh has a history of cases against him relating to smuggling goods to Sri Lanka.

Five imported Yamaha outboard motors, each with a 40-horse-power capacity were seized from the trio. The motors were meant to be transported to Sri Lanka for the LTTE.

These outboard motors are used to convert conventional boats into high-speed boats. The Sea Tigers use them in their strike boats.

The law enforcement agencies have increased their vigil in Tamil Nadu to check smuggling of goods to the LTTE.

The LTTE has been procuring explosives, detonators, resin, boat parts, chopped coir mats for building boats, chemicals, clothes, adhesives, walkie-talkies, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and mobile SIM cards from India.

ANI