SLA soldiers enter university premises, open fire, arrest lecturer, student

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 07:30 GMT]
Hundreds of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who entered the premises of the University of Jaffna Tuesday noon opened fire in the air, charged tear gas and attacked the students. The soldiers arrested Mr. Manickavasagar Ilampirayan, the lecturer of physical education and a student, Mr. Gowri Senthooran, university staff said. Hundreds of students who gathered in front the university building have launched a protest setting up road-blocks. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials have rushed to the site to diffuse tension. The University administration has condemned the conduct of the SLA soldiers, who entered the university premises on Tuesday for the first time since 1995.

The military showdown took place following an incident on Ramanathan Road in front the university where a police vehicle was stoned and damaged by unidentified persons around 11:30 a.m.

The arrested lecturer Mr. Ilampirayan is the brother of Vavuniya District Judge Mr. M. Ilanacheliyan, sources added.