SLA assaults three youths in Nelliady

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 July 2006, 13:34 GMT]
Following gunfire by unknown gunmen on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops on street patrol near Nelliyadi along Jaffna Point Pedro Road by Mudakkadu junction, the SLA cordoned off the area and arrested three youths Tuesday morning, sources from Vadamaradchy said. The youths were released Tuesday afternoon with severe assault wounds, relatives of the youths said.

The SLA troopers earlier had assaulted the three youths in front of the local residents before taking them to the SLA camp in Nelliady for further interrogation.

Nelliady residents said the youths were innocent school children and were not involved in any armed activities.

No one was injured in the firefight that triggered the search operation, according to local sources.