Officers from Sri Lanka's forest department broke into and destroyed the homes of former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres before assaulting them in the Kailveli area of Puthukudiyirippu, Mullaitivu today.
45 families of the LTTE were settled in Kaiveli in 2000 under a housing scheme but after the armed conflict when they tried to resettle in the area in 2012, the forest department erected stone boundaries to prevent this.
Despite this, 20 families have resisted the forest department's actions and have been trying to settle in the Kaiveli area where they previously lived by setting up makeshift homes.
Earlier today, officers from the forest department broke into their homes, destroyed them and took kerosene with them in an attempt to set the homes alight. When the villagers attempted to stop them, they were attacked by the officers. Two former cadres have now been hospitalised following the incident and are currently seeking treatment at Puthukudiyirippu Aadar hospital.
Puthukudiyirippu police Officer-in-Charge and the Divisional Secretary went to the spot and promised to take action to get appropriate solution for the families.
Two of the forest department officials have lodged a complaint at the Puthukudiyirippu police station claiming that their duties were obstructed.
