``Chief Minister M Karunanidhi should not hesitate even for a moment to order a CBI probe, and he should shed his inhibitions about this,'' TNCC president Tindivanam K Ramamurthy told a press conference here.

It was not a mere law and order problem, as the incidents took place in a coastal district known for smuggling activities and possible infiltration by the LTTE. ``The Centre too has a responsibility in this regard,'' Ramamurthy said.

Elaborating on his demand, the TNCC chief said what had happened in Ramanathapuram was not mere caste clashes, as most of the perpetrators were ``outsiders''. Shops which were targeted at Ramanathapuram town belonged to Muslims, according to a report submitted by a TNCCfact-finding team, he said.

``Local traders are saying the attackers had come from Rameswaram, where the RSS is very active, leading them to suspect the involvement of RSS also in the violence,'' Ramamurthy said, adding that this was not his charge but that of the local shop-owners.