Abductees not released, Ea’raavoor shut down continues

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 May 2008, 10:14 GMT]
The general shut down observed in the Muslim town Ea’ravvor in Batticaloa district demanding the release of the two Muslims abducted Thursday allegedly by TMVP Pillayan paramilitary group continued Monday with all shops, schools, banks, public and private institutions closed, sources in Ea’raavoor said. Though TMVP had promised to release the abductees earlier, they have not been released, Eastern Province Council member and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Eastern Province President, Baseer Seku Dawood, said.

The curfew imposed in Ea’raavoor police division Sunday 2:00 p.m was lifted Monday 5:00 a.m.

The bus service plying through Ea’ravoor normally Monday was suspended for an hour as a group of Muslim youths hurled stones on a bus passing through causing minor injury to a Tamil civilian when the shutters were smashed.

Police and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops provide security for the bus service which began to function normally after the above incident.

Ea’raavoor police arrested a Muslim youth Monday morning on suspicion of involvement in the stoning of the bus.

Paramilitaries of Pillayan group allegedly abducted two Muslim youths Thursday afternoon 1:00 p.m. in Kalladi area, within Batticaloa police division.

The victims, both residents of Ea’raavoor, had gone to Kalladi to pay electricity bills when they were abducted.