Cordon and search operation in Sinhala settlement

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 June 2003, 16:40 GMT]
Thirty-four people were arrested during a joint cordon and search operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and police in Srimavopura, a Sinhala settlement in the eastern Trincomalee, Friday morning, police said. The search was conducted to arrest the increased number of criminal seeking refuge in the Trincomalee district, the sources said.

Srimavopura was surrounded by army soldiers and police personnel from about 4 a.m till around 7 a.m. sources said.

Six pistols, bullets and two bombs were recovered during the operation. The bombs which were concealed under a culvert were later deactivated, the police in Trincomalee said.

Srimavopura is the second Sinhala settlement, which was subjected to cordon and search operation jointly by the army and police, recently.

Two weeks ago SLA troops and police conducted a cordon and search operation in Samudragama, a Sinhala settlement located in the Uyanthapadu sea beach. 136 persons were detained during this operation. Later all were released, police said.