SLA denies arresting youth in Vadamaradchy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 March 2007, 11:58 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers arrested a youth during a cordon off and search launched at the school area near the church at Sakkottai in Vadamaradchy north Wednesday around 1:00 p.m, fisheries society sources of the area said. The SLA officials, however, did not acknowledge arresting the youth when contacted for information about the youth, according to relatives.

The search was triggered after there was noise of gunshots being fired in the area, and the SLA troopers rounded up all the fishermen in the vicinity and had them gathered on the main street where they were subjected to many hours of interrogation.

In another incident, SLA street patrol unit opened indiscriminate firing on youths who stood talking along Udupitty-Valvettithurai road at Valvetty area in Valvettithurai Tuesday evening.

The youths fled leaving their motorbikes and bicycles behind.

The SLA troopers took all of them in their vehicles, Valvetty residents said.

SLA troopers launched a cordon off and search in Valvetty area following the incident.

No one was apprehended in this search.

Meanwhile, the reintroduced SLA fishing ban on fishing Wednesday on Vadamaradchy north and east seas continues.