4 Thenmaraadchi civilians seek protection, IDP reported missing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 February 2008, 16:31 GMT]
Three persons from the same family and a driver from Thenmaraadchi sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitaries. Meanwhile, an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) from Thellippazhai Cheeriyam Pu'liyadi IDP refugee camp is feared to have disappeared after entering the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check point in Thellippa'lai, according to a complaint made with HRC Jaffna Wednesday.

A teacher, 47, his sister, 41, and her three-year-old child, and a driver, 57, from Thenmaraadchi sought protection with HRC Wednesday.

The IDP abducted is Murukan Poopaali, 56, a mason, living in Cheeriyam Pu'liyadi IDP camp in Thellippazhai.

Poopaali had gone missing since Monday and his bicycle was seen parked near the SLA check post in Thellippazhai by local residents, according to his wife's complaint to the HRC.

Poopali's family had been internally displaced when SLA appropriated their village in Thellippazhai declaring it part of SLA High Security Zone.

Meanwhile, an auto rickshaw driver abducted by armed men in a white van a few days ago in Point Pedro, Vadamaraadchi has been released after being subjected to severe torture, the driver informed HRC Jaffna.

The armed men in the white van blindfolded and took the auto rickshaw driver to a secret place along Point Pedro - Chaavakachcheari road where he was assaulted and tortured during interrogation with his eyes still blindfolded.

He was later brought close to the main road and left there to find his way home.