Indian Navy beefs up patrolling, security in coastal Tamil Nadu
Dated 18/6/2006
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Chennai: Security has been intensified in the coastal districts of Tamilnadu following the high-pitched battle between Lankan troops and the LTTE in the neighbouring country, beyond the southern tip of India.
Coast Guard personnel have been exercising strict vigil and check posts have been erected to keep an eye on the movement of vehicles in the coastal areas. Securiy personel have been deployed in large numbers.
Following deadly attacks by Lankan troops on LTTE estalishments for the last coule of days, Tamils from Triconmallee, Vavuniya and Mannar have been crossing the shore to take refuge in Tamilnadu. So far over 3220 refugees have reached Rameshwaram. The number of refugees reaching the shores of Tamilnadu is expected to increase in the coming days. The Coast Guards have taken every step to prevent Tigers infiltrating into Tamilnadu, defence sources said here today.
The refugees have been subjected to thorough search and only after confirming their identity they are allowed to enter refugee camps. Special patrol teams have been formed to maintain a vigil in the coastal areas, sources added.
Over 60 check posts have been put up between Chennai and Rameshwaram and an additional 40 would be set up in the coming days. Besides patrol vessels have been pressed into service to prevent infiltration by the Tigers.
The Coast Guard personnel have set up check posts at Endy Pattinam, Uppur, Kadaladi Junction, Valinokkam, Olaguda and Karaioor. Special meetings of the officials have been convened regularly to step up vigil.
Meanwhile the Sri Lankan government forces stormed a church yesterday where about 200 Tamil civilians had sought shelter, shooting indiscriminately in the building and around the surrounding village in an attack that killed five people and injured 47, witnesses said.
The military denied the accusation and blamed the killings on Tamil Tiger rebels who hours earlier had attacked a navy base in the same remote northwestern fishing village, Pesalai, triggering a naval and helicopter battle.
The surging violence - which included the arrest near the capital, Colombo, of two suspected Tamil Tiger bombers who swallowed cyanide after their capture - heightened fears that Sri Lanka could return to an all-out civil war.
