News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 April 1999, 16:46 GMT]
Van that had been carrying TELO members set alight by armed men and cordon and search operation conducted this morning in Vadamaradchi East.

TELO van set on fire

A van that had been carrying TELO members was set on fire by suspected members of the Liberation Tigers at Iranai Illuppaikulam yesterday, said sources.

Two TELO members had travelled in the hired van towards Iranai Illuppaikulam in order to buy paddy from the farmers there.

When the van was ordered to a stop by men in uniform the passengers had produced identity cards to identify themselves as members of TELO.

The men in uniform then relieved the TELO members of the Rs. 80,000/- cash that they had been carrying and allowed them to return to Vavuniya.

The van was then burnt to ashes.

TELO sources blamed the LTTE.

The Sri Lankan Army moved into the Iranai Iluppaikulam area last month in an operation code named Rana Gosa 1.

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Search operation in Vadamaradchi East

The Sri Lanka Army cordoned off and conducted a search operation in Maamunai, Vadamaradchi East, this morning from 6.30 a.m.

Civilians were herded into the market and then interrogated.

On Sunday, Saravanamuthu Selvarasa, 29, of Vadamaradchi East was arrested by the SLA at Eluthumaduval when he went to visit his relative there.

His family has informed the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of the arrest.

Meanwhile the SLA has ordered the fishermen in the area to carry a lantern with them when they set out fishing.

The president of the local fishermen's welfare organisation said that the SLA has given permission for fishing to take place between 2.30 a.m and 5.30 within 3 k.m. off the shore.