LTTE Chief Pathmanathan ‘KP’ Arrested: Reports

Slain LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran’s successor and the new head of Tiger rebels – Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP — has been arrested, say media reports citing officials in Sri Lanka.

The arrest of Pathmanathan, accused by Sri Lanka of running an international weapons smuggling cartel to arm the rebels, was confirmed by the LTTE, the reports added.

Pathmanathan took over the rebel command overcoming opposition from die-hard Prabhakaran followers who blame him for immediately confirming his predecessor’s death at the hands of government troops.

“He (Pathmanathan) is in Sri Lanka now and is being questioned by investigators at the moment,” Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brig Udaya Nanayakkara was quoted as saying by the BBC on its website.

Initial reports had suggested that Pathmanathan was arrested from Thailand, but the reports were immediately rubbished by Bangkok.

Some reports citing a pro-rebel website say that Pathmanathan was abducted from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The website blames Sri Lankan and Malaysian intelligence for his disappearance.

Despite claims by a section of the media, the circumstances of Pathmanathan’s arrest remain shrouded by doubts, especially in the absence of any confirmation or denial from the Sri Lanka government.

Though the arrest has been confirmed by the Lankan Defence Minister, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, no official word is, so far, available on the circumstances or venue of the capture.

Soon after he took over as the rebel chief, Pathmanathan had announced that the Tiger’s would lay down arms and employ non-violent methods to pursue the foal of Eelam – a separate Tamil homeland.