Deployment of SL Intelligence operatives triggers fear among villagers in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 August 2015, 21:10 GMT]
Sri Lankan military has increased the deployment of Sinhala military intelligence troopers in Paduvaan-karai region of Batticaloa district, news sources in Kokkaddich-choalai told TamilNet on Wednesday. The sudden deployment of intelligence operatives has caused tension and fear among the public in Kokkaddichchoalai and other rural environs in Paddippazhai division of the district. The freedom of civilian movement has been severely restricted ahead of the SL Elections and the SL military has deployed a former Tamil paramilitary operative as a tactic to divide the Tamil votes, the sources further said.

SL military operatives are monitoring the people at the public market, bank, tea shops and at the key junctions as well as the places where people socialise with each other.

The devotees of the historic Thaanthaa-malai temple said the frequent visits by the SL military operatives to the water cutting ceremony held 3 days ago was a systematic act of intimidation.

The villagers have complained that they are concerned about the safety of Tamil girls going to schools and that women are afraid to stay at their houses when their husbands go to work during the day time.

In the meantime, the SL military intelligence operatives have also been campaigning among the public demanding them to vote for a former paramilitary associate of Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan). The operative, who is an owner of a cinema theatre at Chengkaladi, is competing in the elections as an independent group, which he has named as ‘Naam Thiraavidar’, the sources further said.