Indian terror suspect searched in flight from Chennai, says Sri Lankan police

Colombo: Sri Lankan police Saturday searched a flight arriving in Colombo from Chennai after being tipped off that a suspect linked to the Pahalgam terror attack could be on board, a police spokesperson said.

A statement from the national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, said that its flight arrived at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport from Chennai at 11:59 am and underwent a comprehensive security inspection upon arrival.

“The search was carried out in coordination with local authorities following an alert from the Chennai Area Control Centre regarding a suspect wanted in India who was believed to be on board”, the statement said.

The aircraft was thoroughly inspected and subsequently cleared for further operations, it said, adding, however, the next scheduled service to Singapore was delayed.

“No one has been arrested by the Katunayake police after the search was conducted at the airport,” police spokesperson and Senior Superintendent Buddhika Manatunga told PTI.

Katunayake police station is the local police point covering the general area of the international airport.

Terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam April 22.

Initially, Indian authorities identified five terrorists, including three Pakistani nationals, behind the massacre in Pahalgam. Citing “cross-border linkages” to the horrific attack, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi April 24 vowed to punish the terrorists behind the Pahalgam terror attack and those part of the conspiracy beyond their imagination, asserting that the country’s enemies targeted not merely unarmed tourists but dared to attack India’s soul.

In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass April 29, Modi asserted that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India’s response to the terror attack.

PTI

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