Troops assault, detain LTTE political workers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 February 2004, 09:24 GMT]
Two members of the LTTE's political division in Jaffna were severely assaulted and detained in a camp by Sri Lanka army troops in Tellipalai Thursday morning.

The two LTTE political workers, Mr. Jana and his deputy, Mr. Chittu, were returning to Chunnakam after visiting the displaced persons who are fasting to death in Tellipalai demanding they be allowed to resettle in their villages which are garrisoned by Sri Lankan armed forces.

Troops released the two LTTE political workers after people and some Policemen who were at the venue of death fast gathered in front of the Sri Lanka army camp near the Tellipalai Thurkkai Amman Temple.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission too arrived at the scene and spoke to troops in camp where the two LTTE political workers were detained.

Troops at the camp charged that the LTTE members had attempted to remove a lion flag at the 8th Mile Post in Tellipalai, about 150 meters from the place where the death fast protest is being held.

The flag, however, remains where it was.

Persons who witnessed the incident said the LTTE political workers were seated on their motorbike and were speaking to a person on the road when they were assaulted.