By Bernama,
Rameswaram (TN) : In the wake of escalation of hostilities between Sri Lankan security forces and the L.T.T.E., the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and intelligence agencies have stepped up vigil along the Tamil Nadu coast as well as the 21 islands in the Palk Straits, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Security agencies have strengthened monitoring of the 21 small and uninhabited islands located between the Tamil Nadu coast and Sri Lanka as they have become a base for smugglers, militants as well as boat operators ferrying Tamil refugees, a senior intelligence officer here told P.T.I. on the condition of anonymity.
A round-the-clock monitoring of the islands has been ordered after a complete survey, he said.
Surveillance would be further tightened in the identified islands when Indian fishermen resume fishing after the 45-day fishing ban ends later this month. The annual ban has been imposed by the state government to promote breeding of different species of fish in the Palk Straits.
Fishing activity in the area has already been restricted as the Sri Lankan Navy has declared certain sections as “no fishing zones” following escalation of fighting with the L.T.T.E. Following this, the Indian Coast Guard has been persuading the Indian fishermen not to cross into Sri Lankan waters to avoid arrests and firing from the Island’s Navy.
Security officials were forced to change the pattern of patrolling and strategic monitoring points following the recent seizure of large quantity of explosives and dropping of a big carton box containing a generator near ‘Musal Theevu'(Hare island), the official said.
He said “Pisasu Munai” (a Point) would be an ideal location for monitoring the Palk Straits and effectively preventing smuggling activities. It would also help prevent smuggling from one island to the other, before the contraband reached ‘Iranatheevu’ controlled by the L.T.T.E.
Referring to the reports about increasing smuggling activities and Sri Lankan ferry boats coming upto ‘Agni Theertham’ to drop the refugees, the official said the monitoring point at Dhanushkodi needed to strengthened.
As many as 262 refugees had arrived from May 12 till Thursday, reflecting that the situation in Sri Lanka had worsened, he said.
The refugees were sent to the Mandapam camp or special camps only after interrogation. But after they reached the camps, there was no mechanism to follow their movements when they went out for work, he said.
According to unconfirmed reports, 500 refugees were missing. The Q branch police had been informed about the missing refugees.
However, there has been a reduction in the number of people fleeing the camp as the conditions had improved, Special Deputy Collector of the camp Arunachalam said.
Rethiavalli, an official at a refugee camp, said they had given a list of 200 refugees who were missing from Mandapam to the police.