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| Photograph @mayurappriyan |
Heavily armed troops have surrounded Nallur temple, in Jaffna, since this morning.
Over 100 soldiers, wearing helmets, are stationed in the temple area, with over 50 soldiers by the entrance.
Military vehicles are parked along the roads leading up to the temple entrance. The tolling of temple bells has been prohibited.
Troops surrounded the families of the disappeared who were breaking coconuts outside the temple entrance in remembrance of the dead.
"We were breaking coconuts, when soldiers came up and surrounded us. They took their shirts off as we were doing our prayers and stared at us," the Northern Provincial Councillor, Ananthy Sasitharan, who was marking the disappearance of her husband, told Tamil Guardian.
Ms Sasitharan's husband, Elilan, surrendered to the army at the end of the armed conflict. He remains missing.
Troops were later seen within the temple premises, apparently in an act of worship, leading locals to believe the troops were observing proceedings inside.
Yesterday the military issued a ban on temple events and public gatherings in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.
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