Southern States - Tamil Nadu

All Tamil `extremists' to be moved to Poonamallee jail

By A. Subramani

CHENNAI MAY 30. All Tamil `extremists' lodged in different central prisons in the State will be brought together and accommodated in the high-security Poonamallee special sub-jail from June 1.

The decision has been taken keeping in view the better security environment on the Poonamallee premises and also a proposal to seek trial of the Tamil extremism-related cases on a daily basis, according to Prison Department sources.

While an order for the transfer of all these TADA detenus to Poonamallee has already been issued, the Government is expected to file soon a petition for day-to-day trial in the Designated Court trying TADA cases soon. Once it is allowed, escorting them to the TADA court on the Madras High Court premises will become easier and more secure.

Though the Poonamallee Sub-jail is not to be formally upgraded immediately, the security structure there will be beefed up, involving additional jail superintendents of the six central prisons in the State. Every additional superintendent will be put incharge of security at the jail in turns, initially for a 15-day period. (As of now, the Poonamallee jail is looked after by an assistant jailor cadre officer, equivalent of a sub-inspector of police).

Most of these prisoners, owing allegiance to `extreme nationalist' outfits such as the Tamil National Liberation Army and the Tamil National Retrieval Troops (TNRT), are now lodged in the Tiruchi Central Prison.

Interestingly, the TNLA leader and Veerappan associate, Maran, lodged in the Poonamallee jail since February 15, 2001 in connection with the Kullanchavadi police station attack case, moved court at least twice seeking transfer to the Tiruchi jail.

He alleged that he was kept in solitary confinement and that the amenities were poor. Now, instead of Maran being transferred to Tiruchi, his TNLA colleagues will join him at Poonamallee on June 1, say the sources.

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