Army warns of assault on LTTE in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2001, 20:02 GMT]
Sri Lankan security forces in Batticaloa Thursday issued a press note warning about a major offensive assault in the eastern district, and urged civilians to move 4 km. away from the camps of the Liberation Tigers.

"Modern weapons and aircrafts are to be deployed in this assault against the LTTE positions," stated the press note that was faxed to local journalists Thursday evening. The troops also asked civilians to store enough food for two months.

Meanwhile, five youths were arrested by the police at Sunkaankerny, a hamlet in Valaichenai, 32 km. north of Batticaloa Thursday.

The youths were arrested around 5 p.m. while they were cleaning the temple compound in the village. Annual festival of the Sunkaankerny Pillayar Temple begins tomorrow, villagers said.

The arrested were identified as: Ganesh, 21, Rajenthiran Rajeswaran,20, Sithravel Kugan,19,Subramanium Kandeepan,19 and Gunaratnam Sukenthiran,18. They are detained at the Valaichenai police station.

Sources in Valaichenai said Police and Army have stepped security measures during the past weeks.

Also on Wednesday, Army and Police conducted a combined search operation in the hamlets of Puthukudiyiruppu, Kannankiramam, Peythaalai and five youths were arrested in the Valaichenai town.