Net closing on Indian operatives helping Tigers

By Asif Fuard

India’s Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) which had received vital clues on former Indian intelligence operatives who have been assisting the LTTE, is now in the process of cracking down on them. The move by the CBI investigators comes in the light of Thursday night’s arrest of a former Indian foreign intelligence operative who was alleged to have been aiding the LTTE.

Gowri Mohandas (44), who was residing in a four storey apartment in Chennai was said to have been on assignment in Colombo when the Indian Peace Keeping Force was operating here in the 1987-1990 period. The CBI was tipped off by an LTTE operative who is in the custody of the Indian authorities, of Gowri’s involvement in helping the LTTE smuggle manuals on weapons, explosives and help launder money for the rebels.

When the CBI investigators raided Gowri’s residence they had found several manuals on weapons and vital intelligence reports that belonged to RAW. The investigators believe that Gowri would have sold some of the intelligence reports to the LTTE. The CBI is to conduct an assets investigation and also look into Gowri’s bank accounts.

A CBI source who spoke to The Sunday Times from New Delhi on grounds of anonymity said information had been received of four other officials who were serving in Sri Lanka during the IPKF occupation and who had been aiding the LTTE.“We have received vital clues of four other RAW agents who have been providing intelligence for the LTTE.

We believe that these intelligence agents would have been involved in many serious terrorist acts that have taken place in India and in Sri Lanka,” he said.