Police target former LTTE cadre over Vavuniya search

by Sivakami
Jan 7, 2019

Sri Lankan police claimed today two phones reportedly recovered from a bag of a suspect during the military search operation in Vavuniya on Tuesday, belong to a former LTTE cadre. 

The former cadre, who has not been named, is understood to live in Vavuniya. 

There was a tense situation in Vavuniya on Tuesday after soldiers and Special Task Force (STF) officers conducted a search operation in Puthur for a suspect. 

The accusation against the suspect has not been revealed, however police claimed that the operation followed a tip off regarding a suspect in the area, who reportedly escaped after throwing his bag into the bushes. The bag contained a pistol, four hand grenades, two mobile phones and bullets, the police said. 

Local residents and civil society organisations have expressed alarm at the extensive deployment of military personnel during the search, as well as the wider routine targetting of former cadre. 

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