No information on the treatment of Indians suspected of having connections to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the police could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, a 1 December 2000 PTI report quotes Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani as saying that India was keeping a "close watch" on activists and sympathizers of the LTTE which was declared an "unlawful association" in India for a period of two years as from 14 May 2000. The report also states that LTTE members and their sympathizers were involved in smuggling activities along the Tamil Nadu coast of southern India.

A 21 November 2000 report in The Statesman states that the Indian Navy was still monitoring fishing vessels operated by Indian LTTE sympathizers suspected of supplying LTTE fighters in Sri lanka.

A 7 May 1999 report states quotes the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister as saying that the Indian security forces had managed "to curb" the smuggling activities of the outlawed LTTE and its Indian supporters in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 7 May 1999. "Indian State Curbs Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger Guerillas." (NEXIS)

Indian News Agency (PTI). 1 December 2000. "India Keeps Close Watch on Sri Lanka Tiger's Activities." (NEXIS)

The Statesman [New Delhi]. 21 November 2000. "Tamil Nadu for Coastal Police to Counter LTTE." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

Internet sources including:

Amnesty International

Country Reports 2000

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

World News Connection (WNC)

Search Engines:

Copernic

Dogpile

Fast

Google

Metacrawler