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TNPF members arrested for May 18th remembrance

13:35 BST

S. Kajendran and V. Manivannan of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), were arrested this morning along with other party members, according to reports by party president Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.

Tweeting live as events unfolded, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam reported that the group had been arrested by Mannar police for commemorating the Mullivaikkaal massacre. On demanding to know the reason for their arrest, the Mannar Superintendent of Police refused to answer before hanging up, he added.

Earlier a monument for the dead at Samanakulam, Vavuniya was destroyed. The monument was due to be the site of the TNPF May 18th memorial event.

Updated 16:45 BST

Arrested TNPF members have been released, and sent to hospital for a medical check up.

Updated 17:01 BST

TNPF members have been taken back to the police station, despite previous assurances of release.

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