|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 18 October 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Security | |
| News Business Features Editorial Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Curfew reimposed in Akkaraipattu by Ranga Jayasuriya and Trincomalee Group Correspondent. Police re-imposed the curfew in Akkaraipattu yesterday afternoon to prevent further violence following three more abductions by rival groups. Two Tamil youth were abducted allegedly by Muslims yesterday morning after the abduction of a 32-year-old Muslim previous day in a series of tit-for-tat abductions by Tamil and Muslim groups. Police said the two Tamils had been released yesterday evening. "Curfew was imposed from 3 pm to Friday morning as a precautionary measure to avoid clashes," a spokesman of the Akkaraipattu police said. He said community leaders requested the police to reimpose the curfew which was lifted at 6 am yesterday after Muslims armed with poles and iron rods gathered in certain areas of the town. Muslims accused the LTTE of abductions, a claim denied by the Tigers. "The LTTE said they had nothing to do with the abductions," SLMM Spokesman Teitur Torkelsson said. He said community leaders and the LTTE had assured fullest cooperation to calm down the tension at a peace committee meeting held yesterday evening. The community leaders have claimed that 15 to 20 young men were fuelling the racial unrest and urged police to arrest them. "Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians and LTTE political activists are working to keep things under control," the SLMM spokesman said, adding that "there is an absence of Muslim political leadership in the area". "We want Muslim political leaders to take part in efforts to normalise the situation". Torkelsson described the situation in the area as "tense". "However no violence has yet been reported," he said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
