The remnants of LTTE are trying to regroup in India and are posing a threat to VVIPs, Indian government yesterday (November 01) told a tribunal examining the extension of the ban on the outfit.

"The LTTE remnant is regrouping in India and posing as a threat to the VVIPs...", the Government of India submitted before one-man tribunal of Justice Vikramjit Sen, The Times of India reported.

Additional Solicitor General Amarjit Singh Chandhioke asserted that the Indian government has adequate material to ban the outfit and cited several pro-LTTE articles and speeches delivered by its supporters in recent times.

The ASG read out material to show that LTTE leaders, operatives and supporters had been inimically opposed to India's policy on their organisation, and the outfit continued its unlawful activities, using remnant cadres as well as local smugglers and pro-LTTE operatives for procuring explosives, detonators, chemicals and ammunition. Various cases registered against LTTE cadres, sympathisers and agents under the Act and other provisions of law would amply prove that the outfit, though based in Sri Lanka, had sympathisers, supporters and agents in India to carry out unlawful acts for the organisation, quoting the ASG, the Hindu reported.

Clandestine support was being extended to the LTTE by Sri Lankan Tamils who entered India in the guise of refugees and indulged in smuggling of even narcotic drugs to raise money for their activities.

He mentioned the name of Tamil film director Seeman, who allegedly delivered several pro-LTTE speeches and written article supporting the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka.

India listed the V Prabhakaran-led group as a terror outfit and banned it in 1992 following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The ASG defended the May 14 notification extending the ban on the LTTE claiming that the outfit has Tamil Nadu as base and is involved in smuggling of explosives and communication devices.

Earlier last month, the tribunal had held its sittings in Chennai and recorded the statements of various parties.

The Centre had in May decided to extend the ban on the outfit for two more years following reports that the remnants of Sri Lankan rebel group were regrouping in Tamil Nadu.

Through a notification, the Home Ministry had stated that even though LTTE was defeated in Sri Lanka, the reports reveal that "remnant LTTE cadres and leaders were regrouping in Tamil Nadu".

The possibility of LTTE's remnant cadres using India and especially Tamil Nadu as a rear base for their regrouping activities.....LTTE sympathisers were posing a threat to India as they continue to spread anti-India sentiments through the medium of Internet," the Home Ministry had noted.

The LTTE has been listed as a terror organisation by various countries including the US, reported The Times of India.