Captured Karuna cadre produced before SLMM

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 July 2006, 15:58 GMT]
"I was escorted by Karuna group cadres and about 50 Sri Lanka Army troops from Mahindapura camp to LTTE held area in Eachchilampathu. They gave me a claymore mine, a roll of wire, detonators, torchlight batteries and a grenade. I was ordered to target a LTTE vehicle. The Tigers, however, arrived at the spot before I had placed the claymore and arrested me," said Jeyachandran, a Karuna group cadre while talking to journalists at Sampoor LTTE political secretariat in the Muttur east, Tuesday. The Liberation Tigers Tuesday produced him at a discussion held between Mr.S.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head and members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), LTTE sources said.

Jeyachandran, alias 'Jeya', of Kathiraveli in Batticaloa district was captured by Liberation Tigers on 7 July in the LTTE held Eachchilampathu division located south of Trincomalee district, LTTE sources said.

'Jeya' later talked to the SLMM monitors and journalists.

"I was arrested by Karuna group cadres at Valaichenai on 2 July when I was on my way to work. I was then taken in a Sri Lanka Army buffel armoured vehicle to an army camp near Batticaloa court house. I was intimidated at the camp by Karuna group cadres. They threatened me with death if I refused to join them. Later I was transferred in an army vehicle to Trincomalee Plantain Point army camp. I was assaulted by Riyaseelan and Sunil of ENDLF group, forcing me to join the Karuna group. Thereafter I was taken to Kallaru army camp and then to Mahindapura army camp," Jeya told the journalists.

Explaining to journalists about events that lead to his arrest, 'Jeya' said, "After midnight on 6 July, I was taken from Mahindapura army camp along with Riyaseelan, Sunil and several members of the Karuna group, accompanied by more than 50 Sri Lanka governement troops to the LTTE held Eachchilampathu division. They gave me a claymore mine, a roll of wire, detonators, torchlight batteries and a grenade. They asked med to come to Mahindapura camp the following day around after attacking the vehicle of an important LTTE leader which was to pass through that road. Then they went and took cover in the no-man zone. LTTE soldiers arrived at the site around 9 a.m. before I had placed the claymore and arrested me with weapons, 'Jeya' said.

SLMM monitors also questioned Mr.Jeyachandran, LTTE sources said.