Southern states update, March 21, 2007.

In Tamil Nadu, cradles were introduced 15 years ago to prevent female infanticide. But the move just prompted the women to opt for female foeticide in place of female infanticide.
Sreelatha Menon, Cradling a solution? Business Standard, March 18, 2007.

Tamil Nadu a shining example as to how AIDS prevalence could be controlled and stands first among the States for testing the maximum number of people for HIV at voluntary counselling.
Tamil Nadu an example in AIDS control: Minister, The Hindu, March 21, 2007.
Tamil Nadu becomes the first state in the country to launch a free nutritional supplement programme for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Meanwhile the LTTE threat has resurfaced yet again in Tamil Nadu in the past ten days indicating that the LTTE-Indian broker nexus is getting stronger in the country.
LTTE threat resurfaces, Times Now, March 21, 2007.
Tamil Nadu chief minister backtracks from his idea of the joint operation against LTTE.
Karuna spoils Sri Lankan ploy, DNA, March 20, 2007.

Also See:
V. Sundaram, NGOs, subversive activists and foreign funds - I, News Today.

Southern States Update: March 14, 2007.

The politics of language continues to be a theme in Indian politics.
Jaya Menon, Tamil & only Tamil? Only for masses, Indian Express, March 14, 2007.

Lack of coordination among the state and central level security agencies have provided the much needed platform for the LTTE to have a free run in spreading its network in Tamil Nadu. The ruling party of Tamil Nadu making a clear distinction between support to Tamils struggle for their rights and the LTTE's war.
Intelligence agencies blamed for LTTE's free run in TN, New Indian Express, March 14, 2007.
Col R Hariharan, LTTE Ripples in Tamil Nadu, Asiantribune, March 14, 2007.

Meanwhile in Kerala Capital punishment was awarded to a serial rapist for raping and killing a two-year-old girl in August 2005.
Don Sebastian, Serial rapist gets death in Kerala, DNA News, March 13, 2007.

Arms Trail Update: March 11, 2007.

TN warned yet again of the possible infiltration of terrorist through sea route.
‘Terrorists infiltrating through sea route’, Gulf Times, March 10, 2007.

Meanwhile the investigations reveal that a wide network of LTTE sympathizers is alive and thriving in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu police has expressed concern over LTTE brokers, who aid the LTTE in procuring and transporting arms.
Dhanya Rajendran, LTTE's hawala networks in TN, TIMES NOW, March 11, 2007.

The Tamil Nadu police have intensified their drive against the Tamil Tigers.
Police have arrested 41 people in connection with Sri Lanka rebels' terrorist activities. Ten suspects have been detained under the National Security Act.
Crackdown against Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers supporters: 41 arrested so far, Lanka Everything, March 9, 2007.

Politicisation of the LTTE crackdown reaches its peak in TN, with parties accusing each others stands on the issue.
M Rama Rao, Jaya- Karuna in spat on Tiger Company, Asiantribune, March 8, 2007.

Ruling party in Tamil Nadu to hold a massive demonstration in front of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission on Monday to condemn the repeated attacks by the Sri Lankan navy upon Indian fishermen.

Arms Trail: March 2, 2007

LTTE has denied its smuggling of arms from India and appealed to India not to provide any weapon to Sri Lanka.
Attack on diplomats mirrors Tigers’ loathing for international community, Daily News, March 2 , 2007.

Arms Trail Update and other: February 26, 2007.

A boat, with LTTE suicide cadres, two Indian nationals on board, and heavily loaded with a mixture of TNT and RDX, was caught by the Indian Coast Guard on 13th of February in south Tamil Nadu. After investigations and legal process, it was blown up 20 nautical miles off Chennai, due to security risk.
PK Balachandran, SL happy as India blows up LTTE boat, HindustanTimes, February 24, 2007.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu Government and Intelligence Agencies have been criticized for having failed in detecting the smuggling.
Arms smuggling to Lanka: BJP warns TN govt, The Times Of India, February 25, 2007.

The three arrested militants in their confession have stated that, militants use the islets near Palk Strait as transit and communication point for smuggling of explosives from Tamil Nadu,
Lankan militants use islets near Palk Strait as transit point, The New Indian Express, February 26, 2007.

Tamil Nadu CM has made a significant remark stating that, “Just because Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to be sympathetic towards ethnic Tamils of Sri Lanka, it should not mean Chennai will go against the policy of Delhi on the issue. ”
Vinod Vedi, LTTE’s Tamil Nadu connection, Asiantribune, February 25, 2007.

Another issue close to Chennai hearts: After a long political tussle, work on India’s largest desalination plant begins in Chennai.
Jaya Menon, In time for parched Chennai, Indian Express, February 26, 2007.

Arms Trail: February 15, 2007.

Indian Navy and Coast Guard have hauled yet another set of arms from a suspected LTTE boat on southern coast of Tamil Nadu. The cargo contained a suicide bomber’s jacket, explosives weighing 7 kg, five detonators, a satellite phone and a hand held GPS.
Jaya Menon, LTTE boat was on its way to Lanka, say TN police, Indian Express, February 16, 2007.
Veeraraghav T M, India catches LTTE by the 'arm', CNN-IBN, February 14, 2007.

Innovative and isolated instances of terrorist outfits manipulating the stock markets to raise funds for their operations have been reported Mumbai and Chennai stock exchanges.
Terrorist groups manipulating BSE: NSA, Financial Express, February 15, 2007. Editorial response in the same paper.

Kerala Update, January 13-20, 2007

An arms haul in Kochi leads the news from Kerala.
Kochi: Weapons found during customs check, NDTV, January 10, 2007.
Animesh Roul, Arms and Qur'an: Not A Good Omen for India! Counterterrorism Blog, January 10, 2007.

Rajeev PI, Arms were for extremists: VS, Indian Express, January 11, 2007.

Kochi arms haul tip of iceberg: Mehta, IANS/ Gulf News, January 17, 2007.

ISRO plans a Space univ in Kerala, IANS/ Times of India, January 16, 2007.

Last word:
Don Sebastian, Kerala babus get ready for Swadeshi Saturdays, Daily News and Analysis, January 17, 2007

Southern states update

Rocket shells were netted from the Palk Straits which are believed to have been abandoned by Sri Lankan militants.

That solutions are not universal is again demonstrated by this news:
Bt cotton crop fails in Tamil Nadu,Ashok B. Sharma,Checkbiotech,January 05, 2007.