Tigers accuse Lankan Army of helping Karuna faction

Breakaway Sri Lankan rebels who rejoined the main Tamil Tiger rebel group have said the Army was helping the breakaway faction, in comments ...

Breakaway Sri Lankan rebels who rejoined the main Tamil Tiger rebel group have said the Army was helping the breakaway faction, in comments likely to stoke tension as the island struggles to revive a peace bid.

The accusation, made in an interview on Sunday with the BBC’s Tamil-language service, adds to the Tigers’ allegations the Army has been trying to exploit the unprecedented split in rebel ranks by harbouring breakaway commander Karuna.

‘‘Until the day we left him, Karuna was in military protection. We too were in military protection,’’ a woman rebel cadre who rejoined the LTTE was quoted as saying. The Sri Lankan military denied helping rebels. ‘‘Our stand remains the same — we have no involvement with any of these groups,’’ military spokesman Colonel Sumedha Perera said.

Karuna split from the LTTE in March with about 6,000 troops, saying the leadership discriminated against members in the East.

For Kolkata, the IMD has forecast mostly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain or thundershowers on most days through Panchami.

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