SLA cordons, searches Paasaiyoor area

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 July 2007, 10:33 GMT]
Several hundred Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers trucked to the coastal villages south of Jaffna, cordoned off and searched Paasaiyoor, Kurunakar, Thirunakar, Koyyaaththoaddam and surrounding areas from early morning Wednesday, local residents said.

SLA soldiers confiscated the National ID cards from residents and ordered them to assemble at the Paasaiyoor playground where the villagers were paraded in front of masked men.

Most of the women and children were allowed to return home at 10:00 a.m.

More than 100 men were still being interrogated at 2:00 p.m., residents said. Details of anyone arrested at the end of the operation is not known.

Tension prevailed in the area throughout the day. Vehicular traffic to and from the villagers were blocked during the several hours in the morning, according to residents.