SLA cordons off, searches areas west of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 October 2007, 19:15 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), deploying large number of troops, launched a cordon and search operation Thursday dawn covering a vast area in Jaffna west, sources in Jaffna said. Youths and young women were rounded up for interrogation and the National Identity Cards of many have been confiscated by the SLA troops. The SLA has directed the victims to claim their ID cards at the SLA camp in their respective areas.

Areas searched include Naavanthu'rai, Oaddumadam, Koddadi, Sivan Koayil Veethi, Five Junction area, Kaakkaitheevu and Pommaive'li.

Young men and women were brought to places of worship in the areas and were interrogated.

During the search which lasted until Thursday afternoon, all vehicular traffic through these areas was stopped and the passengers ordered to alight from the vehicles.

SLA troops subjected all to rigorous check.

No details are available if anyone was arrested during the search.