Two milk vendors missing in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 July 2008, 18:02 GMT]
Two milk vendors from Akkaraippattu police division have been reported missing since Saturday early morning 4:00 a.m., Vimalavathy, wife of one of victims, stated in a complaint lodged with Akkaraippattu police. The relatives of the victims have also reported the disappearances to the nearby Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps.

The victims have been identified as Thambirasa Thamotheram, 57, father of two children and a resident of R.K.M .Road, Division – 7, Akkaraippattu, and T.Rajmohan, 32. also a father if two children, and a resident of Thappilivil.

The two men left their homes Saturday early morning to collect milk in the grazing land in Vaddamadu but disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Usually the men return home at 11:00 a.m, the relatives of the missing men said.

Thamothiram is also a treasurer of Akkaraippattu Livestock Association.

The grassland of Vaddamadu is an uninhabited area. Many farm lands in this area have been encroached by Muslims using fraudulently prepared deeds of ownership.

Land disputes between Tamils and Muslim residents in this area are very common.

This no man land is bounded by Shaahamam village in the north, and Kanchikudichanaaru in the east. Sinhala areas lie to the North while there are dense forests in South.

Sinhala home guards and SLA troops used to regularly visit the area. However, at present this area is not under the control of SLA.

Any one visiting this desolate area used to hand over their identity cards at the Special Task force (STF) camp located in Shaahamam before proceeding further.

The Vaddamadu grass land is located 4 km from the STF camp, and 14 km north of Akkaraippattu.