174 Tamil youths disappeared in Vanthaa’rumoolai remembered

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 September 2010, 11:38 GMT]
Parents and relatives of one hundred and seventy four Tamil youths disappeared after arrest by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from Vanthaa'rumoolai campus of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka in Batticaloa district two decades ago held prayers in memory of them Sunday. SLA troops had come in buses and taken 158 Tamil youths by force from Vanthaa'rumoolai campus on 05.09.1990 and 16 youths eighteen days later on September 23.

Since then for the last two decades parents and relatives of these youths are in the dark whether their loved ones are alive or dead.

These youths had sought refuge in Vanthaa'rumoolai campus to evade atrocities by the state armed forces and were arrested by SLA in the name of interrogation.

The parents and relatives of the youths were not informed about their whereabouts.

Some parents who are under the impression that their children are alive held prayers in temples of their faith Sunday for their safe return.

Other parents who think their children are no more held rituals seeking solace to their souls.