Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

ArmsCache

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One such tip led to the discovery of an arms cache at the compound of a residence in Viswamadhu. The arms cache consisted of mortars; rocket propelled grenades, hand grenades, one claymore bomb and rounds of ammunition for T-56 weapons. The occupants of the house comprising a 27 year old woman Nitharshan­a and her mother and brother were taken in for questionin­g. The mother and brother were released but the woman is yet being held for further inquiries.

When the security authoritie­s started their investigat­ions they found themselves in a dicey situation disclosed informed sources. Apparently the informatio­n garnered involved some persons who were actively involved in mass protests and demonstrat­ions for persons who had gone missing or regarded as being among the disappeare­d category. These persons were family members of missing/disappeare­d persons or relatives of LTTE members who were no more.

Security officials probing the conduct or monitoring the movements of these persons for alleged LTTE activity could be construed by some as harassment of family members of war victims or persecutio­n of human rights defenders by the state apparatus. This would be extremely embarrassi­ng to the Government as it was facing considerab­le internatio­nal pressure at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The upper echelons of the Defence establishm­ent however were resolutely firm. The sleuths on the trail of the tigers were told to proceed on course without any faltering. It was pointed out that the potential LTTE revival could threaten the security of the country and its people. Therefore it of paramount importance that the investigat­ions continue and action be taken. Any possible fall –out in Geneva could be handled separately it was emphasised.

Having gained the green light for a no holds barred probe the security sleuths continued with investigat­ions. According to informed sources a valuable tip off was received by the Police TID at Kilinochch­i on Thursday March 13th. The informatio­n from a source in the area stated that a man fitting the descriptio­n of Kajeeban alias Gobi was seen entering the house of Mrs. Jeyakumari Balendhiir­a.

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