Hartal observed in Batticaloa and Amparai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 11:33 GMT]
Batticaloa district Peoples Coalition organized a hartal (work stoppage) in Batticaloa and Amparai districts Thursday protesting the recent arrests of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political officials, increasing road checks on the civilians by the Security forces and the rise in random killings, sources in the eastern province said.

Life came to a standstill in most areas of the two major districts as public participated widely in observing the hartal, according to residents in Batticaloa and Amparai.

In Batticaloa district, except in muslim regions of Ottamavadi, Eravur and Kattankudi in all other Tamil areas the shops were closed.



In Batticaloa-Valaichenai road, close to the Eastern University Campus in Vantharumoolai tires were burnt on the roadside. Tires were burnt in several sections of the Batticaloa-Kalmunai road. Security forces were seen clearing the burning tires in these areas.



Schools, Government offices, markets and other businesses were also closed in both districtss. The emergency sections of Hospitals continued to function attending to only serious cases.

Only the vehicles of the security forces were seen on the roads in the two districts, according to sources.