Govt. keen on ending ultras' menace

By K. T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, JUNE 6. The Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha's reiteration urging the Centre to ban the TNLA and the TNRT has come at a time when the police are preparing themselves again, under a new command, to nab the forest brigand, Veerappan.

Though the request for clamping a ban on the two organisations was made as early as in December last by the then Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, consequent to the Rajkumar kidnap episode, which surprisingly pointed to the outfits' hand in the sordid incident, the Centre did not take any decision.

A reason being cited for the delay in giving the nod for the State Government's proposal is that the Union Home Ministry should have adequate supporting evidence to justify prohibiting the activities of the organisations. A genuine case for a ban is a vital requisite as the Centre's decision will have to stand scrutiny by a tribunal.

The police acknowledge that the infiltration of the TNLA and the TNRT into the `fortress' of Veerappan did give a ``new dimension'' to the situation, as the cadres and activities of the TNLA were believed to have been spread over only the South Arcot- Tiruchirappalli-Jayankondam belt. The outfit's leader, Mr. Maran, who broke away from the main group, led by Tamilarasan who was killed by the public at Ponparappi, is now behind bars. Only after parting ways with the main group, it is suspected, did Mr. Maran come into contact with Veerappan and a nexus developed between them. The police believe that the outfit could have dissipated following Mr. Maran's arrest and at best can have only a handful of hardcore elements, who are ``misguided youth'' wedded to left extremist or naxalite ideologies.

Correct estimates of the TNRT's numbers are not available, though the organisation is considered ``potentially more dangerous'' than the TNLA. Only a handful of its hardcore cadres may still be eluding the police dragnet. However, cadres in both outfits are considered ``experts in explosive devices''. The State Government's intention seems to be amply clear; it wants to put an end to the activities of the dreaded organisations at the earliest, lest their threat assume alarming proportions later.

Though Al-Umma and the Jihad Committee were banned in the State immediately after the serial blasts in Coimbatore on February 14, 1998, the State Government appears determined to ensure that the organisations do not spread their tentacles to other States. Thanks to the relentless pursuit by the State police, the activists of the organisations, save a few, are in prison in connection with various cases of fundamentalist activities. The police hunt has not been given up and this is evident from the latest nabbing of Ayesha, a woman activist.

The tribunal, which upheld the ban on Al-Umma, said the material placed before the court could not be ignored. Nor could the notification declaring Al-Umma an unlawful organisation be quashed on the plea that there was no linking evidence.

The Justice Gokulakrishnan Commission, which inquired into the serial blasts, confirmed Al-Umma's role in the incidents.

However, according to a police officer, though the State Government's eagerness may be genuine, the two organisations are ``home-grown groups'' and it may be difficult to justify a nation-wide ban. Almost all members of the Jihad Committee were also arrested.

Meanwhile, the Janata Party president, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, today described as selective the list of extremist organisations given by Ms. Jayalalitha for being banned. He said the ``most discredited'' organisation in the State was the Dravidar Kazhagam, which had been indicted by the Jain Commission, which probed the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, in its final report.

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Section  : Southern States
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