Sleuths of National Investigation Agency launched a manhunt across Tamil Nadu on Thursday morning reportedly in search of persons from Sri Lanka hiding in the State. Sources in the NIA told reporters that the search is to find out persons associated with the Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo in which more than 250 persons lost their lives and 500 were left maimed and injured.
But a release issued by NIA headquarters later in the day said sleuths from the agency carried out searches at 20 locations at Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli and Karaikal in connection with investigation of the murder of Ramalingam, a 41year-old activist of the PMK in Thanjavur district which is being probed by the NIA.
“During searches, a number of digital devices including 16 mobile phones, 21 SIM cards, 3 Laptops, 9 Har d Discs, 7 Memory cards, 118 CDs/DVDs, 1 Tab, 7 Diaries,, 2 PFI Banners, 1 DVR have been seized. Besides 1 Sword, 1 Sharp edged knife and Cash of Rs 2 Lakhs were recovered from 3 different houses and about 100 Incriminating documents have also been seized,” said the NIA release.
Thanjavur Police had arrested ten persons believed to be accused in the case. “Six other accused are still absconding. The accused persons are active members/office bearers of PFI,” the NIA release disclosed further.
Chennai Police on Wednesday had arrested a person of Sri Lankan origin from Mannady, a city suburb described as a haven for extremists and criminals on the run. The arrested person, who told the police that he was in touch with activists of the National Thowheed Jama-ath of Sri Lanka, the organisation believed to have carried out the bombings in Colombo Churches, took the cops to an apartment at Poonamallee from where they picked up 33 year old Roshan, a Sri Lankan citizen.
When reports last came, officials belonging to the NIA, IB and the Tamil Nadu Police were questioning those whom they have taken into custody. Sources in Chennai Police said that Roshan has been staying in Chennai without valid documents and they expect to collect some vital information from him while questioning.
Ramalingam , who questioned a group of Islamic activists engaged in proselytising the villagers of Thripuvan near Kumbhakonam was murdered in a gruesome manner by persons suspected to be the members of the PFI. His hand and leg were chopped off for questioning the clerics and Ramalingam died on the way to the hospital.
Though the Tamil Nadu police had arrested 11 persons in connection with the murder, no progress could be made in the investigation which resulted in the State administration entrusting the probe with the NIA.
S Gurumurthy, columnist and editor of Thuglaq magazine came out on Thursday with a revelation that the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jama ath has connections with the National Thowheed Jamaath and Sri Lankan Thowheed Jama at. According to Gurumurthy, Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath and Sri La Thowheed Jamaath has relations dating back to a decade.