STF interrogates 25 Ea'raavoor Muslims, curfew extended

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 May 2008, 10:44 GMT]
25 Muslim youths were arrested and interrogated by the STF after the elite commando unit opened fire on the protesters, killing a mother and wounding a youth, on Monday at Ea'raavoor. Two policemen were wounded in the episode, Police said stating that the STF opened fire only after they were shot by armed men among the protesters. Meanwhile, Muslim representatives alleged that at least 14 of the arrested youth have been subjected to torture as the police was attempting to get forced written statements from the youth.

Muslim representatives also alleged that the Sri Lankan forces that freed an abducted Muslim at Thannaamunai while he was being tortured by the TMVP paramilitary inside a coconut farm Monday had failed to bring the paramilitary personnel for justice. Also, on Sunday the Police recovered two Muslim traders from a TMVP camp in Kommathu'rai with injuries. But, no action was taken on the TMVP personnel, they alleged.

As tension prevailed in the area, police extended curfew from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 a.m. Wednesday after lifting it for four hours on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a civilian was killed and a 16-year-old TMVP recruit was seriously wounded when a vehicle that slipped off the road and hit the cyclists in Vanthaa'rumoolai in the Ea'raavoor Police division. The civilian was identified as T. Sivanesan, 29, a family man and the TMVP under-age recruit was identified as N. Kannan.

Chronology: