Devotees arrested in Nalloor temple released

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 August 2008, 10:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested Saturday around 7:30 p.m more than fifteen youths who were worshiping at the historically famous Nalloor Kantasuvaami Koayil claiming their behavior was suspicious, sources in Jaffna said. The youths who were taken in Buffel Armoured Personnel Carriers to an SLA camp in Jaffna town were released Sunday morning after being held for interrogation, the sources added.

The youths were attending in the 12th day festival of the twenty-five days annual festival of the temple and were arrested in the temple environs.

All four main entrances to the temple located along Jaffna, Point Pedro and Temple roads are manned 24 hours by SLA soldiers and police.

Sri Lankan Defence Ministry had earlier announced that the duration of curfew hours from 9:00 p.m to 4:30 a.m would be reduced by half an hour, beginning from 9:00 p.m to 4:00 a.m daily, sources said.

However, it was reported later that the reduction of curfew hours applied only to Nalloor Regional Secretary Division in which the temple is located.

The SLA soldiers and policemen posted at the entrances of the temple continue to check all devotees attending the annual festival, the sources added.