Family nabbed with food for LTTE

Rafik JALALDEEN

BATTICALOA: A family of six including three children were apprehended by the Security Forces in Aselapura, Valaichchenai area while transporting food items to the LTTE hiding in the jungles.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops engaged in route clearing operation arrested a family along with a Canter loaded with food items at around 3.45 a.m. in the Valaichchenai area. “The family had said they were transporting dry rations to LTTE cadres hiding in the Punai jungles,” he added.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said during interrogation, the father told the police that his family was threatened by an LTTE.

cadre in the neighborhood before joining the out-fit. Therefore, he and his family members were forced to transport dry rations in a hired vehicle risking their lives to the LTTE.

“The Tiger cadres directed the family to unload the food items at the 112 Mile Post on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa main road. The seized stock of food items contained packets of instant noodles, soft drinks, sugar, cheese, milk powder, biscuits and other food items,” he said.

The suspects were handed over to the Valaichchenai police. Meanwhile, a civilian was injured in a bomb explosion along the MK road, Ottamawadi around 1.00 a.m. yesterday. The injured man was admitted to the Valaichchenai Hospital.