Vanni is gripped with fear amidst intensified militarisation and arrests, including two incidents of a pregnant mother in Trincomalee and a 28 year old woman in Vasvamaadu, Mullaitheevu district being arrested, reports JDS.

One senior citizen from Vanni told the JDS of increased mobile and permanent check posts along Paranthan-Mullaithivu road and Puthukudiyiruppu-Mankulam road since the arrest of the the disappearances campaigner Balendran Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter Vipoosika on Thursday.

Speaking anonymously, he told the JDS,

"Army and military intelligence officers are all over the place and check points are further tightened. Heavy military presence can be seen in the region."

See here for full report by JDS, extract on the arrests of two Tamil women, reproduced below: 

"Prior to the arrest of mother and daughter from Darmapuram in Kilinochchi, who were prominent activists of Families of Disappeared, JDS has learnt that the Sri Lankan security forces had detained at least two other women from the Tamil majority North-East.

Reports from the Eastern district of Trincomalee say that Balaguruparan Tharmila who is pregnant and mother of a four-year old boy from Paalai Ootru area is held in Colombo after been arrested on the 12th of March by Sri Lankan intelligence officers."

"Meanwhile, a 28 year old woman Nitharsana, from Visvamadu in the north eastern Mullaithivu district is believed to be held by the police Terrorism Investigation Department (TID). She was also arrested on the 12th of March alongside her mother and brother who were released two days later.

Family members fear for the well being of the women in custody as legal access has not been granted."