Special teams of the State intelligence and local police of Tamil Nadu, had mounted vigil after intelligence reports that former LTTE cadres were regrouping in Tamil Nadu to plan attacks in Sri Lanka on May 18, the day Sri Lankan troops killed LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran ending 25 years of terrorism, the Hindu reported yesterday.
The police drawn from coastal districts have been deployed to guard the 1,000 plus km coastline, the newspaper reported. Following reports, the Coastal Security Group of the Tamil Nadu police had also enhanced the frequency of patrolling along India’s territorial waters.
Besides planning attacks to mark the Mullivaikal anniversary that falls on May 18, which some groups observe as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the ex-LTTE cadre were also conspiring to avenge the killings of their leader.
The newspaper reported that amid escalating violent protests in Sri Lanka, some sections of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, with multinational links, were trying to make their presence ‘felt’ during the ‘Liberation Week’.
Fishermen have been briefed of the risk factors and the coastal security agencies have been told to be on the look out for any intrusions by suspected Sri Lankans. Police checkpoints have also been increased in the coastal areas.
The newspaper reported, “Tamil Nadu has been witnessing activities of suspected LTTE sympathisers or its former cadre in recent years. Last year, the National Investigation Agency arrested a former LTTE intelligence wing operative Satkunam on charges of raising funds for the LTTE.”
A woman suspected of LTTE connections was also arrested at the Chennai airport recently. The LTTE is a banned terrorist organisation in India.