61 Tamils arrested in Negombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 August 2008, 11:15 GMT]
Sixty-one Tamil civilians taken into custody with several others in cordon and search operations conducted by the police and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from Saturday late evening till Sunday early morning in several parts of Negombo town are being detained in Negombo police station. The rest were released after preliminary inquiry.

The search operation covered Beach Road, Muththumaariamman Veethi, Asarappaa Veethi, Dalupatte Pallensena Veethi and bazaar area of Negombo town.

Police sources said those arrested had been residents of North, East and upcountry in the central province.

However, relatives of the arrestees told civil rights groups and activists that police had taken into custody several residents who had been residing in Negombo and its suburbs for several years and who possess national identity cards and valid documents to prove their identity.

Those suspected to be involved in terrorist activity would be produced in court after inquiry, the police said.