LTTE cadres’ intruded into TN to eliminate Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh - Intelligence cautioned

Even as the Sri Lankan Government claimed it has eliminated the Terrorist Movement - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last year, a shocking report has emerged that core cadres had "sneaked into Tamil Nadu, with the plan of eliminating Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh” when he visited here last week.

Investigating into the source of maps seized by Customs authorities in a consignment booked to the U.S. by a retired Army officer, police with the inputs from Central and State intelligence agencies stumbled upon a plan that some key cadres of the LTTE had intruded into Tamil Nadu.

According to highly placed police sources, hours before Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived in Chennai to inaugurate the new State Assembly and the Secretariat complex on March 13, the Central Intelligence Bureau alerted the Tamil Nadu police that LTTE cadres had entered the city and were staying at Valasaravakkam, on the outskirts of Chennai.

While police launched a massive combing operation to locate the suspects, another input came that a satellite phone was switched on in the city, reliable sources in the state intelligence department said. The source further said, about six teams led by senior police officers conducted searches based on certain clues and swooped down on three Israeli nationals who were found to be in possession of the Sat-phone.

Though they claimed to be tourists, police took no chances and checked the call particulars of the phone. The three were interrogated by intelligence officers at an undisclosed place.

The phone remained in the possession of the police till the departure of the Prime Minister and other VVIPs, the sources added. “We picked up two persons in the Valasaravakkam area, whose names matched with those given by the intelligence agency. They were found to be Sri Lankan Tamils who were staying in Tamil Nadu as refugees…they have registered their names with the competent authority. There is no clue about other suspects,” a police official said.

Parrying questions on the identity and other details about the Israeli nationals, the official maintained that they were “bonafide” tourists and the Sat-phone was used for making “personal” calls.

He said there was information about some suspected LTTE cadres who reached the coast at Rameswaram and other places through clandestine means. “The information is being verified at different levels. After a careful analysis of the threat perception to the Prime Minister, the Special Protection Group and other agencies made some recommendations in the Advance Security Liaison meeting that were complied with fully,” the official added.

With regard to the seizure of maps and blue prints from the consignment booked by Col. Hugh A. Marley to the U.S., police said further investigation was being done by the Customs in coordination with Defence intelligence.

- Asian Tribune -