Colombo, July 11: Military and police tightened security in an eastern Sri Lankan town today after intelligence reports suggested that armed Tamil Tiger rebels may have infiltrated the area, police officials said. Policemen, backed by infantry soldiers, checked pedestrians and motorists in Batticaloa town, an official said on condition of anonymity.
A web site, which reports on Tamil-related matters, said the increased security was "heightening apprehensions among residents that the war-era atmosphere was returning to the town." Batticaloa, 220 kilometers east of Colombo, has an ethnic Tamil majority. Security was tight in the town before the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam signed a ceasefire in February, 2002. Afterward, many of the roadblocks were removed and security was relaxed.
The town is under government control, but the Tigers have bases in the outskirts. Under the ceasefire, the rebels can only enter a government-held area if they're unarmed. Army intelligence units reported that armed rebels may have already infiltrated the town or were planning to in coming days, said an official coordinating the security. He also declined to be named.
The Tigers have been accused of taking advantage of the relaxed security and assassinating public figures who oppose them.
Human rights groups claim the rebels have killed at least 35 security officials and informers, some in Batticaloa, since the truce. Bureau Report