Sri Lanka probes Chennai-Colombo flight over Pahalgam attack suspect tip-off

(Representative Image)

On Saturday, Sri Lankan police conducted a search of a flight arriving from Chennai after receiving a tip-off that a suspect linked to the Pahalgam terror attack could be on board, according to a police spokesperson.

A statement from the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, indicated that the flight arrived at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport from Chennai at 11:59 AM and underwent a thorough 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 noted. The aircraft was thoroughly inspected and subsequently cleared for further operations.

The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on April 22, resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian authorities have identified five terrorists involved in the attack, including three Pakistani nationals.

On April 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack, stating that the country's enemies targeted not only unarmed tourists but also dared to attack India's soul. In a high-level meeting with senior defense officials on April 29, Modi emphasized that the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India's response to the terror attack, according to government sources.

(With PTI Inputs)