Authorities unsure whether LTTE is involved despite pamphlet recovered at explosion site
Authorities unsure whether LTTE is involved despite pamphlet recovered at explosion site
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Tamil Nadu police has launched a manhunt for saboteurs responsible for the blast on the railway track taken by the Trichy-Chennai Rockfort Express on Saturday, near Perani Railway Station, in Villupuram district. The blast occurred at 2 am, ripping tracks and forming a three-foot crater just before the train entered Perani station, 70 km south of Chennai.
The police claimed that a pamphlet was recovered at the spot, which was signed 'brothers of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran', condemning the recent visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India after "indulging in the genocide of Tamilians" in the island nation. The pamphlet also condemned the centre and the Tamil Nadu government for their alleged support to the Sri Lankan army.
"About three feet of tracks have been blown up in the blast. According to our initial assessment, a wire from the blast spot led to a nearby electric pole which supplied the power for the blast. The electric pole was meant for an irrigation pump set. We are still investigating the nature of the blast and the device used," said E Masanamuthu, DIG, Villuppuram Range.
Other senior officials like railway DIG Pon Manikkavel, forensic experts, bomb detection and disposal personnel as well as sniffer dogs rushed to the spot for a preliminary assessment. However, police officials remained tightlipped when asked about likely masterminds or whether the blasts were in any way connected to the LTTE or Maoists.
"We cannot say anything before we get definite clues. But going by the contents in the pamphlet, we will explore if supporters of the LTTE are involved. We have intensified search operations in Viluppuram and adjoining districts," said a senior police officer.
It may be recalled that India had extended the ban on the supposedly non-existent LTTE for another two years, with the justification that the lives of Indian VVIPs were in danger because of the organisation, which is trying to regroup in Tamil Nadu.
The Villupuram deputy superintendent of the 'Q' branch -- the special LTTE tracking unit of the Tamil Nadu Police -- said he was in a meeting to discuss the incident.u00a0
An official spokesperson of Naam Thamilar, a pro-Eelam political party floated by Tamil movie director Seeman, Anthony Simon Raja, said, "We have no comments to make."
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