Six arrested in Batti search operation

Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

The police and the Security Forces launched a massive cordon and search operation in the Batticoloa district on Tuesday to trace explosives, hidden weapons and terrorist cadres who had sought refuge in the district. The operation had lasted twelve hours. Police Media Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekera told the Daily News.

He said 860 houses and 124 vehicles were searched and 2,905 persons were questioned. Six persons were arrested on suspicion. The areas included 12 Grama Niladhari divisions in the district such as Batticoloa town, Erravur, Valachchenai, Vakarai, Kalkuddah, Ithamale, Vaunathivu, Kochkadacholai, Kathankudi, Kalawanchikudi, Velaveli and Karadiyanaru.

Meanwhile, the body of Selvam Loganathan, a labourer attached to the Vavuniya police station, was found on the road at Ukkulaikulam in Vavuniya.

The body was found by the public around 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. SSP Gunesekera said Loganathan had gone home after work around 4.30 p.m. on Monday. His whereabouts thereafter were not known.

He had succumbed to gun shot injuries.

No suspects had been arrested and the motive for the killing is being investigated by the Vavuniya police, he said.