Peythalai youths allege SLA mistreatment

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 December 1999, 18:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off Peythalai, a hamlet in Valaichenai, 32 kilometres north of Batticaloa, and conducted a house to house operation today sources said.

The SLA soldiers summoned young men and women to a public ground, checked their identity cards and interrogated them, the sources said.

Seven youths were taken into custody for interrogation. Six of them were later released this evening, they said. They allege they were assaulted by the SLA soldiers. Their injuries were treated at a private clinic, the sources said.

The seventh detainee, Muthurasa Pirapakaran, 20, remains held at the Valachenai Harbour View SLA camp for further inquiries, said sources.