56 Gelignite sticks found in Mannar bound bus
 

BY RANIL Wijayapala

POLICE at the Murunkan checkpoint on the Vavuniya-Mannar road yesterday took into custody 56 highly explosive gelignite sticks after searching a Mannar bound bus from Colombo, military sources said yesterday.

Police searched the bus after it reached the Murunkan Police checkpoint at 5.30 a.m. from Colombo, sources added. Police suspect the gelignite sticks were special explosives to be used against Security Forces in Mannar.

Police arrested three persons along with the 56 gelignite sticks.

Meanwhile, Security Forces and Police on search and clearing operations in Velambaveli, Batticaloa detected a two kilo claymore mine along with a 50 metre wire, military sources added.

With the detection of this claymore mine, Security Forces have recovered seven claymore mines in the North and East since December 1.

The hartal by LTTE led organisations in protest over the deaths of five youths in Trincomalee continued yesterday too paralysing normal life. All schools and public offices were closed yesterday as public transport came to a halt.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the Daily News that security was tightened in certain areas in Trincomalee as some people tried to create a chaotic situation on the guise of the hartal campaign.

"We have taken steps to strengthen security in Trincomalee soon after the youths' deaths were reported," he added.

Three soldiers were injured when the LTTE lobbed a hand grenade at a foot patrol at Abhayapura, Trincomalee around 8.10 p.m. on Thursday.