The entrance to the special camp in Tiruchy. File photo | Photo credit: The Hindu
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested nine inmates of the Tiruchi special camp as a follow-up to a search operation conducted in July, during which it seized several mobile phones and incriminating material allegedly used by some inmates. Used to connect with one. International drug cartel.
A 10-member team of the agency reached Tiruchi earlier in the day, and its Superintendent of Police Dharmarajan met the Collector, who has administrative and operational control over the camp. The camp houses foreign nationals, most of whom are Sri Lankan Tamils facing various criminal charges.
Police sources identified the arrested prisoners as Gunasekaran alias Guna; Pushparaj; Mohd Asmin; Kotta Gamini; Stanley Kennedy Fernando; Dhanuka Roshan; Ladiya; Vela Suranka; And heartiness. While five of them are Sri Lankan Tamils, the remaining four are Sinhalese. Sources said the nine prisoners arrested under tight police cover were taken to Chennai to be produced before a court in Poonamallee.
An NIA team led by a senior Deputy Inspector General of Police rank officer along with Central Armed Paramilitary Force personnel launched a search operation at the camp in July, during which around 70 mobile phones, SIM cards and some incriminating material were seized. Searches were also conducted at various places in Chennai. The team interrogated some Sri Lankan nationals who were arrested in the Vizhinjam drug and arms smuggling case.