SLA launches large scale cordon, search in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 17:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched a large scale cordon and search operation from Tuesday morning till evening covering areas west of A9 Jaffna-Kandy road blocking all the roads leading to the main road, local residents said. Residents were not allowed to leave their homes during the search.

Kerudaavil, Manthuvil, Kodikaamam, Meesaalai, Changaththaanay and Va’r’a’ni areas between Chaavakachcheari and Kodikaamam were the places where the SLA cordon and search took place.

The roads leading to Jaffna-Kandy road were all blocked using large logs and stones.

School children and government officers were allowed to use a few chosen roads.

People in large numbers trying to use these selected roads were subjected to rigorous checking and kept waiting for hours before they were allowed to proceed.

No information is available of anyone arrested in the search this morning.

A similar SLA cordon and search was launched Monday on the eastern side of the A9 Jaffna-Kandy road covering areas from Chaavakachcheari town up to Kodikaamam.

Intensive cordon and search operations were launched Saturday and Sunday in these areas following the killing of two SLA soldiers Friday in Thenmaraadchi.

On Friday unidentified armed men shot dead two SLA soldiers in two separate attacks in Madaththadi and Vempiraay residential areas in Chaavakachcheari in Thenmaraadchi around 7:00 p.m and 7:30 p.m.