Missing persons reports

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 March 2000, 21:52 GMT]
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Vavuniya said they received six complaints during the first week of this month, regarding persons who have been reported missing.

Three of them are detained at 21-1 Brigade Head Quarters, while another is held by the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU). The remaining two are yet to be traced, HRC sources said.

Sangarapillai Balachandran, 29 of Pandarikulam who went to renew his residence pass at Police station situated in the Brown Co. on 3 March has been reported missing.

Mahalingam Thivakaralingam, 27, an employee at the educational Department has been reported missing since 20 February. He was to visit his relatives in Vavuniya and left Mulliyawalai in the Mullaithivu District on 20 February. His relatives have complained to the HRC that he has not arrived in Vavuniya.

In a separate incident, two school teachers of Saivapirakasa Mahavidyalayam were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers at Bazar Road in front of Selone Bank in Vavuniya on Tuesday evening said sources. One of them was released later in the evening.

The teachers were arrested by SLA soldiers who came in a white van. They were blind folded and taken away in the van. One of them was released near a church after an hour. The other, Vekavanam Mayoorathan, 23, is being questioned by the SLA in Vavuniya said sources.