Muttur access security stepped up

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 July 1999, 16:56 GMT]
Commandos of the Special Task Force (STF) and regular policemen conducted a cordon and search operation in Addapallam area in the Ninthavur division today of Tamil and Muslim homes in the Addapallam area.

A Tamil village, Pandiruppu in Kalmunai area was also today surrounded by Sri Lankan security forces.

No one was arrested during those cordon and search operations, residents said.

Cordon and search operations by the Special Task Force, Sri Lankan Police and Army (SLA) frequently take place in the Tamil villages on the Ampara district in the island's Eastern province, residents said.

The SLA and Police conduct these cordon and search operations because they have received information about infiltration by fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) into the villages in the district, SLA officials said.

Meanwhile security on the Allai-Kantalai main road in the Trincomalee district has been strengthened, following an attack by the Tigers on Wednesday early morning in which three SLA soldiers were killed and one injured, SLA sources said.

Allai-Kantalai is the only land route to Muttur. The only other access to Muttur is by sea in motor launches from Trincomalee jetty.