COIMBATORE: Two suspected LTTE militants were killed after they allegedly triggered off an explosion as a police party laid siege to the house in which they were staying in the city’s Sungam area in Tamil Nadu state.
Ramanan city police commissioner, who led the siege, told PT1 that it could not be immediately ascertained if the two had died in the explosion or had consumed cyanide (which LTTE cadre are said to carry).
He said police, who surrounded the house, had asked the two to surrender The duo had refused and threatened to kill themselves if police tried to enter the house. As the exchanges were going on the explosion was heard, following which police forced open the doors and found the two battling for life.
While one died soon after, the other succumbed in hospital. Both were found to have suffered multiple injuries.
Police gave the names of the two as Guna and Kishore, both hailing form Jaffna in Sri Lanka. Ramanan said a wireless set, some documents and currency notes, partially destroyed in the explosion, and a nine MM pistol were recovered from the house.
Police surrounded the house following a tip off from two other Sri Lankan youths, said it to be LTTE cadres, who were interrogated by the district rural police after being held in the city’s Kaundam palayam area.
Meanwhile, a team of experts from the state forensic science department from Madras has been requisitioned to inspect the house.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 2, 1991
