TN outfit denies link with Lanka org blamed for blasts

Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ), a non-political Islamic organisation based in the state, on Monday dismissed reports that had connected it with the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) which has been blamed by the Sri Lankan government for the dastardly attacks targeting churches and five-star hotels serving Easter breakfast.

TNTJ also condemned the deadly Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka that has so far claimed 290 lives, including foreigners and asked the government in the island nation to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.

In a statement, the TNTJ said that the Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath (SLTJ), its affiliated outfit, has not just condemned the attack but has organised blood camps in the island to help treat the victim of Sunday’s mayhem.

Categorically denying any links with NTJ, the TNTJ said that linking organisations that are involved in “social service” in Tamil Nadu with the blasts in Sri Lanka was not just unfortunate but highly condemnable.

“Both the TNTJ and the SLTJ have been involved in social service and have been campaigning against terrorist organisations. We have worked during disasters that struck Chennai,” E Muhammad, general secretary of TNTJ, said in a statement.

He said that Thowheed was an Arabic word and any organisation can use it for any purposes.

“Just to link TNTJ with NTJ just because of the word Thowheed is unfortunate. The TNTJ will never support any organisation that involves itself in murdering innocent people. We have no connection with the NTJ,” the statement said.

Sri Lanka on Monday said that the NTJ was responsible for carrying out the attacks at three catholic churches and as many hotels celebrating Easter on Sunday.

This is one of the deadliest attacks in the country— Sri Lanka defeated the LTTE in May 2009 at the end of a 25-year-old civil war that claimed lives of 70,000 Tamils and Sinhalese.