No detainees held in Mannar - SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Military and Police officers informed Mannar magistrate today that no detainees are being held in the four detention camps in Mannar, in the north-western part of the island, said a court official today.

These camps are used to detain and screen Tamils entering SLA controlled Mannar from the LTTE controlled parts of the Vanni region through the SLA check point at Uyilankulam junction.

Magistrate of Mannar, M. Ilancheliyan, had asked the officials of the Sri Lankan forces in Mannar that list of detainees held in these camps be sent to the Mannar courts fortnightly . The lists are placed on the court's notice board .

Police sources said two persons who were in the detention last week were produced in the court and had been transferred to Anuradhapura Prison for further interrogation.

Travelling through Uyilankulam check point is restricted and people are screened before they are allowed to proceed.

The four detention camps are at Mannar Police station, ThalaiMannar Police station, Murungan SLA camp and Thallaadi SLA camp.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan Army cordoned off and searched Thenmaradchi sector in the Jaffna peninsula several times recently, said sources in Jaffna.

The SLA has intensified search operations in the Villages of Madduvil, Kaithady, Nunavil, Kalvayal, Sankathaanai, Sarasalai in the Thenmaradchi since last week and many civilians have been arrested during these search operations, said sources.