SLA, STF militarise Puththa'lam following unrest

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 August 2011, 13:07 GMT]
Hundreds of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and elite commandos of the notorious Special Task Force (STF) personnel have been deployed in Puththa'lam following the clashes between the residents and the SL Police on Sunday. The SLA has come to the town with military tanks and armoured vehicles. SLA and STF personnel are manning every 5 meter of the road, the residents said. The residents say the that two armed intruders, who caused injuries to a dog entering the premises of a house in Ma'nal-theevu, 3 km north of Puththa'lam and shot at the Muslim youth who confronted them, were Sinhala policemen.

Puththa'lam police station is under the control of the SLA.

Several checkposts have been put up. Heavily armed Sinhala military men are patrolling the Puththa'lam Mannaar Road.

More than 50% of the businesses did not operate on Monday.

One of the Muslim civilians, shot by alleged ‘grease devil’ attackers at Ma'nal-theevu Sunday night, has been transferred to Colombo hospital for further treatment. Three civilians were transferred to the hospital at Chilaapam (Chilaw).

Another wounded civilian is still being treated at Puththa'lam hospital. A 25 year old Sinhalese police constable was killed by a group of angry protesters who were antagonised by the Sri Lankan Police and Army Sunday night.

The home-village of the slain Sinhala policeman, Anamaduwa, was tense as the news spread of the killing of the constable. Many vehicles of the Muslim travellers, who travelled beyond Bangadeniya on Puththa'lam - Colombo Road, were attacked by the Sinhalese.

Sri Lankan IGP for North Western Province visited the area Monday, sources in Puththa'lam told TamilNet.

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