LTTE's women wing chief arrested in Sri Lanka

Colombo, May 28:The political wing leader of the LTTE women's force, who had crossed into the government-held areas from the no-fire zone in northern Sri Lanka in the guise of a civilian, was arrested from a refugee camp here.

Subramaniam Shivathai alias Thamilini, who came to the refugee camp with other civilians from Mullaitivu, during the last phase of the military operation was arrested at a welfare village in Vavuniya, a media report has said.

Thamilini reportedly threw away her cyanide capsule and revolver before leaving LTTE-held area with other civilians.

She had come to the government-controlled region along with the people escaping from Puthumathalan which was a 'No Fire Zone' at the time, and was with her mother and sister when she was arrested by a special team of police on Wednesday, authorities said.

She had told the police that she threw away her cyanide capsule and her pistol and passed off as a displaced person, the news website Asian Tribune said.

Thamilini's mother, Subramaniam Gowri Wijayaraja and a sister Maheshwari had also accompanied her.

She had joined the LTTE in 1991 and was elevated to the position of the organisation's political head after its leader Nesmia died in a clash with the Sri Lankan Army.

Thamilini's another sister, Santhilan, had been killed in 1998, during a clash with the security forces in Paranthan, the website said. PTI