New checkpoints added, more troops deployed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 17:07 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna district is establishing new checkpoints and strengthening its existing camps and sentries, civilian sources in Jaffna said. Additional troops have been deployed in Vadamarachchi and Thenmaradchchi division in Jaffna district, sources added.

Civilians are now subjected to severe checks at sentry points. They are asked to get down from buses and show their identity cards, sources said.

Another report said the SLA Monday started constructing a new big camp at Murugamoorthy temple area in Thenmaradchchi division, sources said.

Meanwhile civilian sources in Vadamarachchi said that close relatives of Thambithurai Kulasingham who was abducted by unidentified persons on May 10 at Nelliyady were taken in for questioning to the army camp by the SLA officials Monday. They were released after about six hours' interrogation, civil sources said.

The SLA has deployed more SLA soldiers to monitor the movements of LTTE activists in the area where Kulasingham family is staying, sources said.