Army-backed paramilitaries abducted more than 35 underage youths from the villages of Thivuchenai, Karuppalai, Sorivil and Sevanapitty in Batticaloa district in a single day last week.
Parents of the abducted children, gripped by fear for their children’s safety, are reluctant to make complaints to the police or human rights watchdogs, a Grama Sevaka official told reproters.
Tension prevails in the interior villages of Batticaloa district.
Meanwhile, paramilitary cadres working with the SLA abducted 3 youths from Pethalai village in Valaichenai Police area, northern Batticaloa district. Their parents have not reported the incident to the Police or human rights organizations.
Last month the United Nations child agency, UNICEF, last week condemned abductions and forced recruitment of underage youth in the east by the Arm-backed paramilitary Karuna Group and called for an immediate halt to the practice.
The UNICEF statement came amid reports over a hundred youth had been seized from streets and homes last week in the Batticaloa district.
“Over the past week, the agency has verified reports of thirty cases in Batticaloa district. Reports of abduction and forced recruitment of boys under the age of 18 from the area have increased since March of this year,” UNICEF said.
Last month, press reports said more than 125 underage youths had been abducted by the paramilitary Karuna Group during Sri Lanka Army and paramilitry launched cordon and search operations in the Batticaloa district.
The reports said the SLA would arrest the youths and hand them over to paramilitary cadres. Paramilitary cadres were also allowed to enter houses, beat up the underage youths and abduct them for training.
More than 75 youths were abducted in Valaichenai area, 27 youths were abducted in a cordon and search operation in Kiran and another 23 youths were abducted at Santhiveli. The abducted youths were being taken to Thivuchenai in Batticaloa - Polonnaruwa border for forced recruitment in the Karuna Group, reports said.
The youths, studying at year 9 to year 12 at school, are also being abducted by paramilitary cadres riding around government-controlled areas in white vans without number plates.
Parents of the abducted children, gripped by fear for their children’s safety, are reluctant to make complaints to the police or human rights watchdogs, a Grama Sevaka official told reproters.
Tension prevails in the interior villages of Batticaloa district.
Meanwhile, paramilitary cadres working with the SLA abducted 3 youths from Pethalai village in Valaichenai Police area, northern Batticaloa district. Their parents have not reported the incident to the Police or human rights organizations.
Last month the United Nations child agency, UNICEF, last week condemned abductions and forced recruitment of underage youth in the east by the Arm-backed paramilitary Karuna Group and called for an immediate halt to the practice.
The UNICEF statement came amid reports over a hundred youth had been seized from streets and homes last week in the Batticaloa district.
“Over the past week, the agency has verified reports of thirty cases in Batticaloa district. Reports of abduction and forced recruitment of boys under the age of 18 from the area have increased since March of this year,” UNICEF said.
Last month, press reports said more than 125 underage youths had been abducted by the paramilitary Karuna Group during Sri Lanka Army and paramilitry launched cordon and search operations in the Batticaloa district.
The reports said the SLA would arrest the youths and hand them over to paramilitary cadres. Paramilitary cadres were also allowed to enter houses, beat up the underage youths and abduct them for training.
More than 75 youths were abducted in Valaichenai area, 27 youths were abducted in a cordon and search operation in Kiran and another 23 youths were abducted at Santhiveli. The abducted youths were being taken to Thivuchenai in Batticaloa - Polonnaruwa border for forced recruitment in the Karuna Group, reports said.
The youths, studying at year 9 to year 12 at school, are also being abducted by paramilitary cadres riding around government-controlled areas in white vans without number plates.
