Tamil-Nadu becoming back as a heaven to LTTE smugglers ?

Tamil nadu in india is not far away from Jaffna peninsula in srilanka. For a long time LTTE using tamil nadu as a their main operational center for their smuggles. The LTTE maintains a wide network of committed sympathizers and mercenary supporters to ensure regular supplies of fuel, medicines and war-related materials to carry on their armed campaign.

As many as 108 people have been arrested for suspected smuggling activities since May 2006. Of these, 31 were Sri Lankan Tamils and the rest Indians. There are 49 Sri Lankan Tamils in a special camp for suspected militants and their sympathizers in Chengalpattu. Of these, nine are hard-core LTTE men.

The Sri Lankan Navy feels its recent successes against the LTTE's fleet of arms-running vessels - it has sunk seven in the last two years - has forced the rebel group to source much of its supplies from India.

The war in Sri Lanka is now closer to India's coast than ever before. The main theater is now Mannar, the North-western district in which a small enclave is in LTTE control. Talaimannar, Sri Lanka's westernmost point is just an hour's speedboat journey away from Rameswaram.