18 Muslim armed groups exist in Batticaloa district

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 June 2009, 15:53 GMT]
Eighteen Muslim armed groups are functioning in Kaaththankudi alone in Batticaloa district and the total number of persons in these groups is said to be about two hundred, according to a report compiled by a special police team handed over to the defense authorities.

The report further states that these Muslim armed groups possess firearms and weapons in large number.

The report mention the names of the Muslim armed groups and their leaders, media sources said.

The deadline given to all Muslim armed groups to surrender to the area Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commander with their weapons through their Mosque Federations, is to end on July 2.

The police and the SLA publicly announced they would arrest all members of the armed groups with their weapons and that they will be dealt according to the law of the land if they fail to meet the deadline.