Although Sri Lanka agreed to a temporary ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), security agencies in India have expressed fear that LTTE cadres might try to infiltrate into India. In view of this, the Indian Army and Indian Navy have been put under high alert on the southern coast.
Army vice Chief Lt. Gen. Thamburaj told reporters on Wednesday that a high alert has been sounded in the southern command and troops are in place to ensure that LTTE don't enter Tamil Nadu.
As LTTE has been confined to a very small area following the fall of its last stronghold Mullaittivu, fleeing LTTE cadres might sneak into Indian southern coast, added Thamburaj.
Earlier this week, according to a report, the Intelligence Bureau had asked Karnataka police to keep a tight vigil on suspected LTTE militants who are trying to take shelter in Bangalore and other neighbouring areas.
It is believed that most LTTE militants have escaped from the island nation during the battle. Indian authorities have also started thorough screening of refugees coming from Sri Lanka to make sure that none of them is allied to Tamil Tigers.
“We have at no time gone for a ceasefire”
President Rajapaksa today said, “We have at no time gone for a ceasefire. We will not do so now. There is no time for that now. In the five or six days remaining we have given the opportunity for the LTTE to lay down their arms and surrender to the Armed Forces and, even in the name of God, free the civilians held by them. If they have no regard for their own lives they should even consider the lives of others.”
“All television channels of the world are now directed towards Sri Lanka. With satellite technology the whole world can now see how the LTTE uses tanks to fire at the Tamil people fleeing from them. Of what need special observers to know of this? Why do we need special representatives to study this? This is known the world over.
However it is a great surprise that some members of the international community do not see this. I must warn the world that this lack of vision could leads to an international tragedy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the LTTE has denied Lankan government’s offer to surrender by saying that they would never surrender to the advancing Lankan force. On the other hand, the Rajapaksa government made it clear that it would continue its military offensive until the leaders of LTTE, especially Velupillai Prabhakaran was captured ‘dead or alive’.
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