Jaffna University undergrads boycott lectures

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 May 2008, 07:36 GMT]
Undergrads of Jaffna University launched a boycott Friday protesting against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) search conducted Wednesday night in the students’ hostel, student leaders said. The search was prompted by an alleged hand grenade attack on SLA troops in the University vicinity. The Jaffna University Students Union (JUSF) accused the SLA and collaborating paramilitaries of staging the attack as a precursor to search the students’ hostel and to intimidate them.

Undergrads arriving at Jaffna University Friday morning abstained from attending lectures and later left the campus.

SLA troops had invaded the students’ hostel Wednesday night claiming that a grenade attack was launched on them near the campus during power cut.

An unexploded hand grenade said to have been found lying at the place of attack was deactivated by SLA around 11:00 p.m Wednesday, student representatives said.

The students said they had been insulted and threatened by the SLA on the pretext of conducting the search after the pre-planned grenade attack.

The Vice-chancellor and other dignitaries were present at the time of search at a location about 100 metres from the University from where the grenade attack is said to have occurred.