PLOTE men arrested

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2000, 18:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers rounded up the PLOTE members at their camp in Mannar yesterday evening and arrested three members of the group, allegedly for their involvement in unlawful activities, said sources.

The PLOTE members identified as Thamilvasan, Sivil John and Sivasambu were taken in for interrogation at the SLA camp.

The PLOTE members were questioned about a specific motor cycle which they reported to have used for their activities the sources said.

PLOTE sources in Mannar said the troops had assaulted their cadres during the interrogation.

The arrested PLOTE members were released around 3 p.m. today after senior members of the group had contacted SLA authorities, the sources said.

In a separate incident, SLA troops conducted a search operation between Erukkilampiddi and Pesalai, on the northern coast of Mannar in the early hours of the morning today.

The troops searched the area to arrest illegal traders who were involved in smuggling banned goods to areas not controlled by the Tigers.