Sri Lanka IS suspects were trying to expand base in TN

The Islamic State suspects, who carried out blasts in Sri Lanka during the Easter celebration claiming over 240 lives were trying to expand their base in India's Tamil Nadu, official sources said.

A top National Investigation Agency (NIA) source requesting anonymity said the IS suspects in Sri Lanka were trying to spread their influence in Tamil Nadu.

"We are taking all necessary steps to verify the information and track if any of the attackers in Sri Lanka had India connection," said an NIA source.

He said some intelligence inputs have been received, but "at this stage it would be too early to comment if the information about the IS spreading its influence in Tamil Nadu is correct."

The source revealed the Indian counter-terror probe agency was also in touch with the authorities in Sri Lanka. "If required our team will visit Sri Lanka to gather more information," he said.

About the role of any Indian citizen associated with the suspects in Sri Lanka, he said at this juncture it would be too early to comment whether any Indian citizen assisted or was associated with Sri Lankan IS suspects.

He was responding to a question over the statement of Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army who in an interview to BBC said the movements of the suspects in the region also had some international links as the suspects had gone to India's Kerala and Kashmir.

When specifically asked about the Kashmir and Kerala connection, the source refused to comment.

The Islamic State terror group claimed the attacks, but the government blamed the local Islamist extremist group, the National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ).

Sri Lanka has banned the NTJ and arrested over 100 people in connection with the blasts.

--IANS

aks/prs