London LTTE chief helped procure war materials for outfit

The chief of LTTE in Britain helped the outlawed outfit to procure war-store and raised funds for its activities, an ongoing trial in the UK has revealed.
 
Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, 52, was found to have procured material, electric components and raised funds for the organisation banned in UK despite warnings by the authorities to stop his activities.
 
Chrishanthakumar, also known as Shanthan, was reportedly in regular contact with the British authorities, including those from Special Branch, in his role as the London head of the Tamil Tigers, the court was told.
 
Some of the components Shanthan procured allegedly had "an obvious terrorist purpose", the court was told, though he has denied any conspiracy charges.

He is also charged with amassing a hoard of military equipment including machetes, combat boots, camouflage clothes, spades and handcuffs, The Daily Telegraph reported on Thursday.

Another charge alleged that he received terrorist documents including guides to underwater warfare systems, explosive ordnance disposal and mine clearance.

He is also accused of two further offences - receiving money and belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the LTTE.

Three other men, Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan and his brother, Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan from Powys, Wales, and Murugesu Jegatheeswaran from Mitcham, south London, are charged with receiving electronic items for use in terrorism. All have denied the charges.

Laidlaw, prosecuting lawyer, told the jury that the defendants, all Tamils from the island of Sri Lanka, were supporters of the LTTE, and that Shanthan was a "full-fledged member of the group."