Editor of DPI organ held for aiding LTTE

The Tamil Nadu Police’s ‘Q’ Branch has taken Dalit Panthers of India functionary Vanniarasu into custody for “associating with the LTTE...

The Tamil Nadu Police’s ‘Q’ Branch has taken Dalit Panthers of India functionary Vanniarasu into custody for “associating with the LTTE” and aiding the banned organisation. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had seized “a suspicious consignment” meant for Vanniarasu at the Chennai Port containing spare parts like steering wheels and propellers worth Rs 8 lakh to be used in high-speed boats for the LTTE.

A ‘Q’ Branch press release said that in February, the DRI seized the package from Norway, meant for Jayaraj Rathinam alias Vanniarasu (36), a life convict in a murder case and out on bail. “As much of the goods were undeclared items, the DRI questioned Vanniarasu for customs duty evasion. Vanniarasu said the goods were meant for tsunami-affected fishermen. But the steering wheels and propellers were clearly meant for high-speed boats,” said a ‘Q’ Branch official.

The police took time to nab Vanniarasu as the consignment had been sent in the name of Jayaraj Rathinam. On investigation, the Q Branch found that the package was meant for Vanniarasu who also went by the name of Jayaraj Rathinam, editor-in-chief of Tamizh Mann, the DPI organ.

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Vannairasu had been convicted of a murder in 1997 and had come out on bail in 2000. While in the Madurai prison, Vanniarasu came in contact with Karuppiah, a LTTE operative, now in London. Karuppiah sent the spare parts to one Kokulan in Oslo, who in turn sent it to Vanniarasu. The consignment was intended to be smuggled to Sri Lanka.

Vanniarasu was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act “for assisting a banned outfit” and under the Passport Act for withholding information about his conviction and obtaining a fresh passport with forged documents. Police said he had visited Sri Lanka thrice. Vannairasu was remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday.

Interestingly, when the consignment reached Chennai in February, the Tamil Nadu Police had made a series of arrests and seizures of ball-bearings and other spare parts for making explosives meant to be smuggled to the LTTE in Sri Lanka.

According to DRI sources, the consignment also contained motors of 500 to 750 horse power, meant for mini-submarines, mini-rockets and mini-aircraft. Vanniarasu was released on bail on Thursday.

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