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. |