SLA said to be behind house burglaries in Nelliyadi

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 September 2007, 01:18 GMT]
Five houses belonging to Tamils inside a high security area fully protected by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentries were burgled during curfew hours at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, civil society sources in Vadamaraadchi said. Two house owners were injured during the burglary, and cash and valuables with an estimated value of more than Rs 5m were stolen during the incident. Local residents accused SLA soldiers and members of the SLA intelligence wing of complicity in the burglaries, sources said.

The injured civilians have been admitted to the Manthikai Government Hospital.

The affected houses are located on the road joining Nelliyadi Junction and Vathiri Junction, 3 km from Point Pedro in Vadamaraadchi.

Sentries with heavy SLA presence are located in a 1 km triangular area formed by Nelliyadi junction, Vathiri Junction, and Maalisanthi Junction, inside which the said houses were located.

Although local residents informed Nelliyadi Police and the SLA camp of the burglaries, no security personnel responded to the call, civil society sources in Vadamaraadchy said. Only when Point Pedro judge Mr Ariyanayagam was informed, he communicated the information to Jaffna Military head quarters who directed security personnel to the location. Burglars had disappeared by the time security forces arrived at the crime location.

Residents say this is the first time a burglary of this magnitude has taken place in Vadamaraadchi.

Jaffna district residents have been complaining of SLA complicity in many burglaries in the peninsula. Jaffna District Court Judge, Me Vignarajah, responding to a spate of burglaries in Jaffna three months earlier said SLA officials should bear the responsibility for the burglaries that occur during curfew hours.