SLA, police arrest two youths in Naavalady

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2008, 00:45 GMT]
Two youths were taken into custody during a cordon and search operation jointly conducted Saturday from 9:00 a.m. till noon by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and police personnel in Naavalady area in the administrative area of Maanmunai North District Secretariat within Batticaloa police division, sources said.

The arrested youths are from outstations and were involved in renovation work at the Gaayathri Temple in Naavalady, area residents added.

SLA troops encircled Naavalady area, and while making a house to house search warned the locals that any one not registered with Grama Sevaka (village level administrator) should register themselves without delay.

The troops also cautioned the area residents that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres may enter Batticaloa via the sea.

Navaalady village was completely damaged during tsunami in 2004 December, and hundreds perished during the disaster. The surviving families were settled in Thirraymadu, Batticaloa, and few of them later returned to the area to resume fishing.

Meanwhile, Special Task Force (STF) troops of SLA and police personnel have begun conducting joint search operations in Batticaloa town and suburbs. In addition, the troops are going around in battle tanks and armoured vehicles causing panic and fear among the public, the residents in the area said.