SLA releases Ottamavadi "missing" men

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 January 2007, 17:45 GMT]
Four Muslim family men missing since January 15 from Omadiamadu jungle in Valaichenai police division in Batticaloa where they had gone to collect firewood, returned home Monday night. The men were held at the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) head quarters in Welikanda.

The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who had been hiding in the said jungle area, prior to their offensive on Vaharai, had arrested the four men and had handed them over to the Wellikanda SLA camp.

The relatives sought the help of the SLA, and the four men were released in the presence of Major Bandara.

Altogether 11 persons, from Ottamavadi in Batticaloa, had gone to collect firewood but only seven of them had returned while the rest four were missing.

The relatives of the missing men had earlier registered complaints at Valaichenai police.

Valaichenai is located 27 km north of Batticaloa town.