LeT infiltration: Tamil Nadu still on high alert, one picked up from Chennai

CHENNAI: Police will strengthen anti-sabotage checks across the state to nab the six Laskhkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, who had infiltrated into the state by sea from Sri Lanka, a senior police officer said on Saturday.


The special investigation division (SID) wing of police on Saturday picked up Siddiqui, a resident of Mannadi in Chennai, from a hideout in Coimbatore.

He is a close aide of Rahim Kolliyil and a Kochi-based woman identified by the central intelligence agency as 'facilitators for the infiltrators', police said.

SID also nabbed Zaheer from Ponvizha Nagar at Ukkadam in Coimbatore, who was in contact with Siddiqui over phone. SID officers and DIG G Karthikeyan questioned the duo at the Karunya Nagar police station.

The Tamil Nadu commando force conducted anti-sabotage checks at several places in Coimbatore. Commando teams, each comprising 20 personnel clad in black led by an inspector and two sub-inspectors, conducted a march at Mettupalayam, Periyanaickenpalayam, Thudiyalur and Kavundampalayam. As many as 2,000 police personnel were deployed in Coimbatore city. Armed personnel stood guard at the 14 checkposts on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. Eleven quick reaction teams (QRTs) and 840 police personnel were stationed in rural areas.

Muslim fundamentalists are seeking refuge in Tamil Nadu as the Sri Lankan government is cracking down on terror groups after the Easter bombings, an SID officer said. "In view of Ganesh Chaturthi festival and the Velankanni festival, police will be deployed to prevent untoward incidents. We will check infiltration through the porous coastal areas," he said. Police are patrolling the beaches near the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni.