70 arrested in combined search

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 August 1998, 08:06 GMT]
More than 75 Tamil youths were arrested in a combined Sri Lanka police and army search in the Vaththalai Police district on the night of the 14 of August and were taken to Valaichenai police station for inquiry.

About 25 of the arrested are still being kept in police custody.

Police sources said that the search was undertaken in Vaththalai, Oliyamullai, Hehitta, Veliyamunai areas. The sources added that police from Gambaha and Kelaniya participated in the search.

Sixteen of those being investigated are men.

The arrested are being questioned say police officers in Vaththalai police station.

Meanwhile, 11 Tamils who were kept imprisoned by Sri Lanka authorities under emergency regulations were released by the chief judge of Colombo, M. A. Silva.

They were arrested at various places in Colombo. Three of the 11 released are women.