Date:28/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/28/stories/2008082855821000.htm

Kerala

Boat theft: IB questions Colachel natives

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: A team from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) questioned the two natives of Colachel in Tamil Nadu who were arrested by the Marine Enforcement Wing (MEW) here on Tuesday in connection with the theft of a mechanised fishing boat from the Thoppumpadi harbour in Kochi.

The interrogation, at the MEW station here on Wednesday, was part of a probe to ascertain whether the theft had any links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Intelligence Bureau team was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police K.S. Pillai. The two, Jagadesh and Thankaraj, were questioned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Later, personnel from the Internal Security cell of the Kerala Police questioned the two for more than an hour. After the interrogation, a waiting team from the Kochi Island police took the two into custody and whisked them away to Kochi.

The stolen boat that had been taken into custody by the MEW on Tuesday was handed over to the Kochi police on Wednesday.

The boat will be taken to Kochi after some repairs here, the police said.