Large search operation in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 January 1999, 18:29 GMT]
More than 500 Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troops from the Thallaadi base and the detachment at the Portuguese fort in the Mannar island cordoned off and searched the suburbs of Moor Street and Uppukkulam in Mannar town from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. today said the TamilNet's Mannar correspondent.

He said that four persons, including two Muslim women were arrested and detained by the SLA during this operation.

A very large quantity of match boxes and a motorcycle were discovered in a house during the search. Inquiries by SLA had led to the arrest of the two women.

The SLA, according to the Mannar TamilNet correspondent, suspects that the goods found in the house were meant for smuggling to that part of the Mannar mainland that is under the control of the Liberation Tigers.

The SLA and the Sri Lankan Police have said that there is rampant smuggling of banned goods to the LTTE controlled areas of the Vanni from Mannar town.

The clandestine conduit for essential goods banned by the SLA to the Vanni from the island of Mannar remains open despite frequent search operations said Police sources.