The Hindu : A bit too late, still the ban is welcome

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 05, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

A bit too late, still the ban is welcome

By S. Ganesan

TIRUCHI JULY 4 . The Centre's decision to ban the Tamil Nadu Liberation Army and the Tamil National Retrieval Troops has been widely welcomed in police circles here, though it has come a trifle too late as both the outfits have been weakened considerably over the past few years.

Yet, the organisations, if allowed to regroup, will become potential trouble-makers. The ban will be an effective weapon and have a deterrent effect, especially when some of the erstwhile TNLA cadres are now functioning under the banner of Tamizhar Viduthalai Iyakkam (TVI), the police circles observe.

While the TNLA is active in Perambalur (mostly in the Ariyalur belt) and Cuddalore districts, the TNRT is still left with a handful of active cadres in Pudukottai district. Bitter factional feuds and repeated splits have left the TNLA emaciated. While the TNLA founders had their ideological moorings in the naxalaite movement, the present band of cadre does not have any pretensions to commitment to a cause. ``Unemployment, poverty and a proclivity for easy living'', are the common factors uniting misguided youth of the region, says a senior police officer.

Besides, most of the hardcore activists and leaders of rival factions, including Su alias Sundaram, are behind bars, causing a leadership vacuum. A few others, such as Kuvagam Ramasamy, were killed in internecine clashes. Ilavarasan and Maran (who came into the limelight during the Rajkumar kidnap episode) are on the run.

TVI a mask

However, Ilavarasan floated the TVI nearly a year ago, ostensibly to join the political mainstream. The police, however, appear in no mood to make any distinction between the two organisations and maintain that the TVI is nothing but a ``mask''. It continues ``to indulge in extortions, hold katta panchayats and terrorise the ruralfolks'' especially in the remote villages of the Jayamkondam, Senthurai and Andimadam belt, the police maintain.

But Ilavarasan and his associates have been denying the charge and accuse the police of foisting cases against them.

An officer, engaged in the drive against the TVI, said the ban would help to restore confidence among the public who are now too scared to lodge complaints against the outfit.

The district police launched a sustained drive against the TVI cadres about two months ago, which effort is said to have yielded results.

Anti-terrorist squads, with handpicked men, were formed in the Ariyalur region, leading to the arrests of about 20 TVI members, some of them in possession of explosive substances.

In June 11 TVI cadres were arrested and five of them detained under the Goondas Act.

According to police estimates, there could be about 50 more TVI active members in the region. A special court to conduct trial of the cases against the TNLA cadres and enhancing police strength in Perambalur district would go a long way in keeping the organisations under check, says a local officer.

Alert against adventurism

Meanwhile, the police have been put on alert to thwart any adventurism by the two organisations to protest the ban.

A special drive against the outfits is likely over the next few days, the police indicate.

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