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Tamil Nadu fishermen `net` two 120 mm `ammo`
Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - 6:53 AM SL Time
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Two 120 mm mortar rounds which had accidentally fallen overboard during a mid-sea transfer carried out by the LTTE in Indian waters had been found off Kanyakumari, a fishing village on the Tamil Nadu coast over the weekend.
The chance recovery made about 15 nautical miles off Uvary by Tamil Nadu fishermen highlighted the LTTE`s continuing presence in the Indian waters. The bombs, each weighing 20-25 kgs had been neatly packed in wooden boxes. The fishermen had opened the boxes at Chinnamuttam port.
A senior Sri Lankan military official asserted that LTTE cadres engaged in transferring ammunition would have accidentally dropped the boxes. But the possibility of them throwing the entire consignment overboard could not be ruled out, he said. Had the Indian Navy or the Coast Guard approached them, they would have been forced to drop everything into the water, he said.
On December 5 and 11, Indian fishermen had recovered three 120 mm mortars when they got entangled in the nets.
The LTTE is widely believed to be using Indian waters and Tamil Nadu fishing fleet to move urgently needed armaments to Northern Sri Lanka. Over the past two years, there had been several major detections made by Indian and Sri Lankan navies and the Indian Coast Guard in waters under their control.
Indian police, too, had made significant detections over a period of time. The recoveries included 1500 kgs of gelex boosters used in mines (last November) near Madurai, about 2 tonnes of steel ball bearings last January in Chennai
Recent Indian investigations into the massacre of a group of Indian fishermen off Kanyakumari revealed that perpetrators were LTTE cadres engaged in transferring armaments in mid sea. Due to stepped up SLN action on the high seas and the Gulf of Mannar, the LTTE had been forced to move armaments in a circuitous route.
The Sri Lankan military dismissed South Indian media reports that the two mortars had been brought to blow up the Kudankulam atomic power station. `An absolute lie,` the military said, emphasizing that the mortar rounds had to be fired. The Tamil Nadu press referred to them as rocket bombs.
Sri Lanka also rejected claims that last Saturday`s confrontation between the SLN and Sea Tigers had taken place off Dhanushkody at the IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line). Dinakaran, affiliated to ruling party in Tamil Nadu quoted a group of fishermen as saying that the SLN had moved in while three LTTE cadres bought 20 liters of diesel from them. According to Dinakaran, the SLN had arrested the three LTTE cadres and freed the Indians who had been subsequently intercepted by LTTE craft.
`Saturday confrontation took place well within the Sri Lankan waters,` an SLN official said. He asserted that an attempt was being made to cover up Tamil Nadu fleet poaching in Sri Lankan waters and clandestine links between the LTTE and some fishermen.
Despite a sizeable Indian naval presence near Indo-Lanka maritime boundary and increased security on land, the LTTE continues to operate from their South Indian hideouts.
The SLN Saturday evening confronted two LTTE craft which moved across the international maritime boundary alongside a cluster of Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters. There had been at least two Indian naval vessels in the area at the time the incursion took place. `There were at least 60 trawlers. They were obviously shielding the Sea Tiger movement,` the official said. The SLN had swung into action north of Talaimannar as trawlers were moving towards LTTE-held Vidattaltivu.
This was against the backdrop of the SLN and a joint delegation of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard meeting onboard SLNS Sayura near the maritime boundary line to discuss the entire gamut of issues. During the confab, the SLN had emphasised the need to curb LTTE activity, particularly the use of the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet to facilitate clandestine operations.
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Damed
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 496
Member Profile
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1 Aug 2007 06:40:10 GMT Report for Abuse
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So this is the Indian connection.
GOSL should call Indian Ambassador to the Foreign ministry.
Pork Straight is the first blood and still exits. India ignores there responsibility in front of TN vote.
But dictate terms to sell arms.
Regional power player in terror activities. |
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