LTTE hand behind Indian fishermen killing cannot be ruled out - Indian Navy Chief

Bandula Jayasekara reporting from New Delhi

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta says the LTTE hand in the killing of four Indian fishermen cannot be ruled out and an inquiry into the incident was being conducted to ascertain the facts. He told journalists in New Delhi that it could be the handiwork of the LTTE to create a rift between the Indian and the Sri Lankan governments.

Admiral Mehta told reporters that the Sri Lankan Navy Chief had assured him that he has asked his forces not to fire at Indian boats. Yesterday Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona also said here that the LTTE is making desperate attempts to create strains in the excellent relationship between India and Sri Lanka prior to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to New Delhi to attend the SAARC summit.

The Times of India quoting India's outgoing Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi said the LTTE air strike had added a completely new dimension to the internal conflict in Sri Lanka. "The existence of aircraft with the LTTE did not come as a surprise. We have been monitoring it. But, the attack was a surprise. This is a new dimension and therefore it is serious," Mehta said.

The newspaper said the Indian security establishment was worried that even a light aircraft could be used as a missile against a high value target, demonstrated by the 9/11 strikes by Al-Qaeda in the United States.

According to the newspaper India has strengthened patrolling and surveillance along its coastline, especially in the Palk Straits and Gulf Mannar region.

The Times of India considered it as more important since the radar coverage in Central and peninsular India is quite clear.

Meanwhile, denying certain newspaper allegations that the Sri Lanka Navy had shot Indian fishermen from the Kanniyakumari District, in an area between Rameshwaram and Tuticorin on March 29 the Foreign Ministry said that the Government wishes to point out that as a responsible naval force of a friendly country, the Sri Lanka Navy does not under any circumstances enter into Indian territorial waters. The Sri Lanka Navy is under strict instructions to refrain from engaging Indian fishermen.

The Government of Sri Lanka is of the view that any complicity regarding the alleged incident must be attributed solely to the LTTE, who have resorted to such provocations in the past as well, in attempts to create strains in the bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka remains committed to continuing its engagement with the Indian side to work out a co-ordinated mechanism between the two Navies, to leave no grounds for any such allegations in the future.