Search operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 August 1999, 11:14 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army this morning cordoned off Valaichenai town, 32 km. north of Batticaloa, and conducted a search operation. All vehicular transport in the town area was also brought to a halt during the search operation, which lasted for three hours.

All members of the public who had come to the town this morning were herded into a playground and searched said sources there.

All shops in the town were also thoroughly searched by the SLA troops.

No one was arrested during the operation, the sources added.

Meanwhile three fishmongers who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Police at Eravur on Tuesday have been handed over to the Counter Subversive Unit in Batticaloa for further interrogation.

The arrested persons, Alwis Arunanathan, 25, of Periya Pullumalai, Karuppaiah Thiyakarasa, 24, of Mayilambaveli and Kanthasamy Ganeshalingam, 23, of Urikamam are being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, said sources.

However no details of the alleged offences were available, they said.