The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Sea Tiger,’ two aides arrested

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Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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‘Sea Tiger,’ two aides arrested

K.T. Sangameswaran

They were allegedly involved in purchase of a boat for LTTE

CHENNAI: A ‘Sea Tiger’ was among the three persons arrested by the ‘Q’ branch of the Tamil Nadu police in the car parking area of the Chennai international airport terminal on Saturday.

The three were allegedly involved in the purchase of a boat for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

According to the police, the special unit personnel detained three persons, James alias Raja (45) of Chinnakadai, Mannar, Sri Lanka, Jayakumar alias Gaurishankar (34) of Jaffna and Ravikumar (42) of Subbaraya Nagar, Choolaimedu, on suspicion. During questioning it was found that Jayakumar was a ‘Sea Tiger’ and had illegally come to India in February this year.

James had visited India three times this year on his passport, the last time in October.

He had allegedly smuggled out of the country computer spare parts, swimming pads and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment for the LTTE by concealing them in beedi bundles.

About Rs.4.78 lakh and 4,140 Sri Lankan rupees were seized from him. Four mobile phones were seized from the arrested persons.

The police said investigation further revealed that Rs.4.78 lakh was meant for purchasing a boat for the Tigers from a person called Raji.

It is alleged that Ravikumar helped James in the purchase of essential items for the LTTE.

Jayakumar had told the police that he was in the ‘Sea Tigers’ from 1995 to 2006. He left the wing and came to India and on the request of the wing leader, Susai, had stayed in Thanjavur in March.

Later, through Susai and an LTTE leader, Karuppiah of London, he got Rs.4.80 lakh for purchasing a boat for the Tigers. It was to be handed over to James. The ‘Q’ branch seized the boat at Mallipattinam in Thanjavur district. The Superintendent of Police, ‘Q’ Branch, M. Ashok Kumar, told The Hindu that a hunt was on to nab two or three more persons. James was stated to be running a fishing net store in Sri Lanka and was engaged in fishing. Ravikumar was a friend of a Sri Lankan, Anand.

Though the exact number of GPS equipment taken out of the country was being ascertained, James had told the police that the consignment sent in the past had about 10 or 12 pieces.

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