SLA tightens security at Muhamalai, Uyilankulam checkpoints

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 February 2003, 17:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers manning Muhamalai check point have tightened their checks and interrogation after the Manipay incident in which LTTE women cadres, civilians and journalists were assaulted by the SLA soldiers and police, sources said.

A group of Jaffna university students including the President of the International Thamileelam Students Union Mr.S.Gajendran were detained Saturday for about three hours at the Muhamalai army camp when they were returning in a vehicle from Vanni to Jaffna by the security forces, sources said.

The army soldiers subjected them to severe interrogation regarding the general shut down observed in Jaffna district. A lecturer of the Jaffna University was also in the group that had been detained, sources said.

When the investigation was over the university students found the tyres of their vehicle were deflated alleged to have been by the SLA soldiers, sources said.

Meanwhile northeast provincial council education officials Saturday complained that they were subjected to severe interrogation and body checks by the security forces manning the checkpoint at Uyilankulam which is the gateway to Madhu in Mannar district, sources said.They were also ordered to walk from one barrier to another at the checkpoint by foot taking all their belongings in their hands, one official said.

The army personnel at the site brushed aside their plea that all were officials in the northeast provincial council, sources said.