DNA has found that Sri Lanka’s dreaded LTTE has now joined hands with the ISI, to undertake destructive missions in Gujarat.
Intelligence sources say the two have an arms-for-training deal to target the Gujarat coast
Anshuman G Dutta
Gujarat’s leap of industrial development in the coastal area has attracted more than foreign investment. While Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency has been active in the state, DNA has found that Sri Lanka’s dreaded Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) has now joined hands with the ISI, to undertake destructive missions in the state.
While ISI might have succeeded in establishing a base in Gujarat, it lacks the capacity to operate in a coastal environment, which needs specialised skills. LTTE has mastered the skill of carrying out maritime operations. Highly placed intelligence sources believe that a ‘deal’ was struck between the ISI and the LTTE earlier this year in January-February, at Colombo.
“Under the deal, the LTTE will train militant organisations (for maritime capability) of the ISI and in return they will be provided with arms and financial resources,” said an intelligence source.
While this deal is likely to benefit LTTE and ISI, “it essentially means bad news for Gujarat which has one-third of the country’s coastaline and its economic growth is now increasingly focused on the coastal areas,” sources said. With more than 60 unmanned jetties and several private ports in the state, intelligence sources feel the state’s security is definitely a matter of concern now.
“There is enough evidence to suggest that the ISI has joined hands with the LTTE and is targeting various ports in Jamnagar area like Sikka, Salaya and others,” said former joint director of intelligence bureau, MK Dhar. Sources believe that ISI’s honing of skills will eventually lead to targeting of state’s ports which are the nerve centre of the region’s development as well as in smuggling arms inside the difficult terrain to help the sleeper cells of several militant organisations in the state, sources said.
The state is ranked high on the target lists of terrorists since the 2002 communal riots. The rapid pace of economic development also makes it a lucrative target. “The ISI wants to hit the state’s growing economy and make it unsafe as far as huge investments are concerned,” said Dhar.
The LTTE’s newfound friendship with the ISI could be seen as an attempt by the former to tide over its financial crisis, after the US banned it as an international terror group. The ban considerably choked the organisation’s funds that poured in from Tamil supporters settled in the UK and US. Delhi-based renowned defense analyst Dr Kanchan Lakshman agrees that the deal took place and ISI and LTTE have established linkages.
“While ISI and LTTE have historical links, there is no proof for their operational linkages. This, however, cannot be denied,” he said.
But it seems the state government has no idea of the ISI-LTTE nexus, despite claims that the Gujarat coastline has become more sensitive for the past few years. State home secretary (law & order) GC Murmu denied the knowledge of any such threat.
Director general of police (DGP,) PC Pande however said, “There is no specific threat from any particular militant group.” He said that the coastline is sensitive but assured that the state police force in the coastal areas is doing a good job.
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