Students demand protection

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 November 1998, 18:38 GMT]
Jaffna university students demonstrated in front of the Vice Chancellor's (VC) office today demanding that they be protected from troops roaming the area at night. The protest was prompted by an incident last night near the university.

A group of soldiers on night patrol had gone to a private female students' hostel in front of the university late last night and had attempted to enter the place by breaking open its doors.

Girls in the hostel had screamed and called on neighbours for help.

The soldiers had then left the premises and had shot at the street lights in the area while moving out. The Jaffna University VC Prof.P.Balasundarampillai promised the students that he would take up the matter with the SLA.

Commenting on the incident, Jaffna civil affairs co-ordinating officer of the SLA, Brig. T.G Thilakaratna said that the soldiers had searched the hostel on a tip off.

He said that security precautions are being taken in view of the approaching Maveerar week from November 21- 27.

Meanwhile sources in Jaffna said that following persons were arrested by the SLA in various parts of Vadamaradchi this week.

1.Arumugam Anpalahan,21 of Aathikoilady in Valvettithurai (VVT)


2.Ponnambalam Sivakumaran, 24, VVT.
3.Kanapathipillai Shanmugarajan,24, Aathikoilady, VVT.
4.Manikkam Nageswaran,26, Supparmadam, Pt.Pedro.
5.Arumugam Chandramohan, 25, Karanavaai, Karaveddi.

All are being held at the detention centre at the Kankesanthurai SLA base complex.

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