Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu have been requested to register themselves with the Indian police upon arrival as a security measure.
The extra-security has been implemented after a group of Sri Lankan pilgrims to India were subjected to attack by a pro-LTTE group identifying themselves as "Nan Thamizhan" (I am Tamil)earlier this week. The 84 Buddhist pilgrims, predominantly elderly men and women came under attack at a lodge the pilgrims were staying in Chennai.
In 2009 the Sri Lankan government won a three decade war against the terrorist faction the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), fighting for a separatist state for the minority Tamil population, in the Buddhist majority island.
The Tamil Nadu police have arrested three people for their involvement with the incident.
Vadivel Krishnamoorthy, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Chennai stated that pilgrims and other visitors arriving in Chennai would now have to register with the police at the airport before proceeding further so that they could be provided with special security.
Travellers in groups will have to disclose their place of accommodation to the police so that extra security could be provided. The same security though may not be extended to individual travellers. However, Deshbandu Sarath Jayawardane, organiser of the pilgrimage said that they would avoid taking pilgrims to Chennai in the future. Jayawardane, together with two other pilgrims was badly injured during the attacks.
According to reports the Tamil Nadu Provincial Government has promised to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans who visit Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu police officers have been instructed to provide adequate security to Sri Lankan visitors, especially pilgrims.
After the attack, several Sri Lankan pilgrim groups were moved by the Deputy High Commission to the Mahabodhi Centre to ensure their safety.
- Khaleej Times