Over 200 Special Task Force troops and police officers have been deployed to the Vadamaradchi town of Thunnalai, resulting in two arrests and the seizure of several vehicles.
Last month a Tamil man from Thunnalai was shot and killed by Sri Lankan police, resulting in protests and tensions boiling over between locals and police across the Vadamaradchi region.
A police crackdown in the region last week resulted in 13 arrests, citing violent infractions during protests.
This morning’s search and round-ups by mostly heavily armed security force personnel have so far seen two arrests as well as the seizure of 11 motorcycles and 4 canter vehicles.
Local sources reported that the operation had sparked fear and anxiety among villagers, noting that the size of the operation was comparable to war-time military numbers.
