Vavuniya SLA searches for deserters

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army cordoned off and searched the suburbs of Vavuniya around the town's railway station in the early hours of the morning yesterday. The army searched Katkuly and Vairavapuliyankulam for more than two hours.

Reliable sources revealed today that the search operation was intended to capture about sixty soldiers who had escaped from a camp. Sources were unable to ascertain the camp from which the soldiers had deserted.

They said that the soldiers appear to have made their escape despite the early morning search operation.

The SLA sealed off the Clock Tower Road and station road areas in Vavuniya town early this morning until 8 p.m. Sources said that a grenade had been found in the area.

Meanwhile the SLA also searched the Pavatkulam area southwest of Vavuniya town today. No details of those arrested were available. The army had moved in on information that the LTTE had had held a meeting in Pavatkulam.