Tamil civilian reported missing in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 March 2009, 05:48 GMT]
A Tamil family man from Paavatkodichcheanai who had been stopped on his way by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Unnichchai 6th Mile Post SLA camp check point in Vavu’natheevu police division in Batticaloa district is reported missing since Friday, sources in Batticaloa said. The missing man was returning home with 100,000 rupees from sales of his cattle and people had seen him being detained at the SLA check post Friday.

The family man reported missing is Thavarajah, the father of four children.

SLA soldiers at the check post, when inquiries were made after the missing man, said that they had not taken such a person into custody.

He may have been arrested and then killed with the motive of robbing the money he had with him, Unnichchai residents said.

Earlier, a gold smith who had gone on 25 February to the Special Task Force (STF) camp at Ka’luvaangnchchikkudi in Batticaloa district had been reported missing since then.

He too had a large sum of money when he went to the camp to deliver a letter given to him by an STF commando who had stopped him on his way to the bank to redeem pawned jewelry.