Tamil farmer arrested by SLA, reported missing

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 May 2006, 11:51 GMT]
Mr.Visanthy Aloysius, a Tamil farmer of Vellalarkaddu in Nanattan division in Mannar district is now reported missing after being arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on April 29. He was arrested by a group of soldiers when he was going to Sooriyakaddaikadu to sell vegetables. Several villagers witnessed the arrest. Now, SLA officials are denying arresting the farmer, said Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan and Mr.S.Noharathalingam, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians in a letter sent Friday to the Sri Lanka President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse.

Ms Logeswaran Ramany of Vellalarkaddu on the same day lodged complaints with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Mannar Police and the office of the two parliamentarians, seeking their assistance to release her son-in-law Mr.Visanthy Aloysius from the army custody, the memorandum further states.

"The wife and children of Mr.Visanthy Aloysius are living in fear for the safety of Mr Aloysius. We appeal to you to instruct SLA officials concerned to furnish information regarding the whereabouts of Mr.Visanthy Aloysius to his wife and children," parliamentarians requested the President in their letter.