The Indian Central intelligence agencies have launched a major investigation into a “specific tip-off” that Naxals were now getting sophisticated weapons through the sea route from Sri Lanka.

Asian Age reports quoting top intelligence sources claimed that they had received information some time back that Naxals were routing arms and ammunition through the sea route through an arms cartel which was suspected to be earlier providing weapons to the LTTE as well. It is suspected that the weapons are coming through Sri Lanka using the sea route, sources added.

Till now it has been confirmed that Naxals were primarily getting weapons, mostly of Chinese origin, either through the Nepal route or through some terror outfits operating in the Northeast, like the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and even the ULFA, who would bring in weapons via Myanmar.

But intelligence officials are worried about this new “supply route” being used by the Maoists to procure sophisticated weapons, including the AK-series rifles, landmines, grenade launchers, communication equipment and even Night Vision Devices (NVDs).

“We have been getting specific inputs that some arms dealers who had been involved with the LTTE earlier are now sourcing weapons to the Naxals as well. This arms cartel has been operating via the sea route since the LTTE days and the same channel is now said to be used for the providing weapons to Naxals also. This indeed is a worrying trend since Naxals are slush with funds and if they get access to state-of-the-art weaponry then they can cause problems for out security forces,” a senior intelligence official informed this newspaper.

The Naxals have been on the offensive over the past few days launching at least three major attacks on the security forces, Asian Age reports.