NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

3 Indians held in LTTE smuggling racket

The Sri Lankan navy has apprehended three Indian nationals for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of arms and essential items to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a naval spokesman said today.

He said an Indian trawler operating off Delft island in Jaffna Peninsula and believed to be carrying explosives exploded in the sea after a Sri Lankan fast-attack craft confronted it. Another vessel was also destroyed.

These two suspiciously moving trawlers were spotted by the navy on the morning of March 12.

In the subsequent confrontation, one sailor was killed while four others were injured. The spokesman said the Indian nationals have been handed over to the police for questioning.

He said on an earlier occasion also, one Indian trawling vessel with medicines was destroyed after the Sri Lankan navy confronted it.

An Indian high commission spokesman said, ''We are looking into the report.''

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report