SLA cordons, searches Jaffna Hindu College

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 February 2007, 11:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off Jaffna Hindu College and surrounding areas, asked the students and staff to assemble at the School play ground, before conducting search of the school premises, administrative officials of the school said. The SLA ordered school closed and sent the students home after the search. Local residents said that they heard sounds of gunfire near the school Monday night, and this may have triggered the SLA search.

School Principal and staff were questioned by the SLA, while being held at the playground, sources said.

Key roads close to the school including Jaffna-Palaly road, and Kasturiar Road were closed during the search, sources said.

The search occurs amidst accusation by the Sri Lanka security forces that schools and places of worship are being used for activities against the State.

However, civil society sources in Jaffna say SLA's recent actions appear to to intended to silence the voices of NGO officials, Bishop of Jaffna, and the officials of the department of Education who have been criticizing the various acts of violation by the SLA troops.

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