Security Forces placed on alert along northern coast

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 March 2007, 15:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Security Forces in northern coastal areas from Valvettiturai to Munai near Point Pedro were placed on red-alert after receiving intelligence information that Sea-Tigers were preparing for an attack after infiltrating through the eastern coastal waters Saturday morning, sources in Jaffna said. The anticipated attack didn't happen until atleast late afternoon, residents of northern coastal villages said.

Fishermen who are normally allowed to fish within 1 km from the shores from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m along the northern coast, were asked to return to the shores at 9:30 a.m. and were not allowed back to fish the whole of Saturday, fisheries union officials said.

SLA soldiers along the shores fired in the air for several minutes, according to local residents.

Many fisher folks from Inparutti, Munai, and Sakkottai who failed to return to the shores promptly were assaulted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at the shores accusing the fishermen of violating the distance rule and venturing deep seas more than 1 km from the shore, fisheries officials added.

The fishing passes of many fishermen were confiscated by the SLA soldiers, the fisheries officials charged.

More than 4000 fisher families are affected by the sudden restriction on fishing, sources said.

Chronology: