Jaffna troops, militia on alert

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
All the ex-Tamil militant groups operating in the Jaffna town were called for a meeting at the Sri Lankan army's 51-2 Brigade headquarters in Jaffna town. They have been told to be on full alert for the Maveerar week.

The army expects the LTTE to step up attacks in the peninsula during the Maveerar week.

Cadres of the ex-Tamil militant groups operate with the Sri Lankan army in counter-insurgency operations against the LTTE.

Around 5.30 p.m. this evening gunshots were heard inside the EPDP office in Jaffna town. Some sources attributed it to an ongoing tussle in the group's leadership in Jaffna. EPDP sources, however, denied the matter, saying that it might have been misfire.

Meanwhile the body of a youth, about twenty years old, was brought to the Jaffna hospital mortuary today by the army. The stomach of the youth was completely blown out by a grenade explosion.

Sources said that the body may be that of an LTTE fighter who was killed in a confrontation at Manthivil junction last night around 7.30 a.m.

Another part of Karainagar was cordoned and searched yesterday. No details of detentions were available.