Sinhala land-grabbers trigger abduction of Tamil youth in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 March 2012, 07:22 GMT]
Armed men of allegedly Sri Lanka Army operated white-van squad Wednesday night have abducted a 20-year-old Tamil youth, Kishore Ramachandran, while the youth was at sleep at his house at mid-night. The abduction comes following threats to the Tamil family at Paalcheanai in Kathirave'li of Vakkarai region in Batticaloa district by Sinhalese to hand over their 8 acres of palm grove with more than 1,500 trees, owned by the family for more than 40 years. On 19 March, a police team claiming as investigative officers from 4th floor CID branch in Colombo came to their house and took away a copy of the land deed. Following the involvement of the CID on the land grab issue, the family lodged a complaint with Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Batticaloa. After the abduction, the family has lodged a complaint with the SL Police.

The abductors had warned the family against any complaint and had instructed the family to remain tight-lipped on the abduction.

A number of Tamil land-owners in Paalchenai area have come under similar threats by Sinhalese intruders who were demanding the Tamils to either sell or hand-over the lands to them.

The Sri Lankan military, police and the intelligence establishment bring the intruders from South to the Vaakarai region of Batticaloa district.

Vaakarai, with a large backwater on the east coast, is an area with fertile fields, lagoons and virgin forests in the northern part of the Batticaloa district.