Search operation in Paandiruppu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 February 2000, 11:19 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) elite troops conducted a cordon and search operation in Paandiruppu, a village, 40 km. south of Batticaloa from the early hours of the morning today.

The STF ordered all males between 8 and 50 to gather at the Hindu Cemetery in the village and questioned them, in front of five masked spotters. Villagers said all of them were also video taped.

The troops also conducted a house-to house search operation while questioning the males at the cemetery, sources said.

The search which began around 5 a.m. went on till noon the sources said.

A youth identified by the spotters was taken in for further interrogation by the troops. He was identified as Pakiyarajah Jeyarupan, 19.

Sources say the youth has been detained in connection with the arrest two young men, Muthulingam Kandeepan and Cristopher Praneeth, during a search operation near Kalmunai Kannaki Amman Temple, on 17 February.