A suspected agent of LTTE, allegedly involved in the smuggling of spiral shells for use by a local company manufacturing decorative items, has been arrested by Tamil Nadu branch police in Rameshwaram. He was arrested at the bus stand yesterday following information received by police and coastal patrol police that spiral shells worth Rs three lakh had been smuggled into the country from Sri Lanka last week, police said on Thursday.
The agent, who had been remanded, told police that he was aware of the smuggling, but pleaded ignorance about where they had been stocked.
The agent was also involved in smuggling engine and generator spares to Sri Lanka in June and five of his accomplices were arrested in this connection, police said adding the agent and another accomplice went underground. Meanwhile, the absconding accomplice landed in Anurathapuram Jail in Sri Lanka for smuggling ganja worth Rs three lakh. It was not known whether the shells and ganja had been bartered.
Bureau Report