Chennai, Feb 15 (IANS): The Tamil Nadu Police have registered an FIR and commenced investigation in the case related to a cylinder with Chinese inscriptions that washed ashore in coastal district of Nagapattinam.

The local fishermen first found the cylinder on Tuesday and immediately informed the Coastal Security Group personnel (CSG).

The CSG personnel on arrival informed the local police and the 'Q' branch of Tamil Nadu Police.

Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) was called in to inspect the three-ft long cylinder with Chinese inscriptions. Chinese language experts were called to decipher the script and they found that the cylinder was an acetylene gas cylinder which was commonly used for gas cutting and welding.

The CSG ascertained that the cylinder could have accidentally fallen off a ship and washed ashore. However, Central Intelligence Agencies and the Q branch of the Tamil Nadu Police commenced a probe.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu DGP's office told IANS that even though it was an empty cylinder washed ashore, the agencies are not calling off the probe. Central agencies want to ascertain whether the cylinder with Chinese inscription was a trial by any Chinese agencies or a cylinder that had accidentally washed ashore by falling off from the ship.