Sri Lankan police have arrested another man in relation to the finding of a bag in Vavuniya this January, which reportedly contained 4 hand grenades and a pistol.
The man, believed to be called Venthan from Batticaloa, was arrested in Mannar on March 1.
STF search operation in Vavuniya. January 2019
The bag, which also contained two mobile phones, was found during an extensive search operation by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF).
A few days later police arrested a former LTTE cadre from Vavuniya, accusing him of being the owner of two mobile phones.
Police claimed the search operation followed a tip off regarding a suspect in the area, who reportedly escaped after throwing his bag into the bushes. The bag contained a pistol, four hand grenades, two mobile phones and bullets, the police said at the time.
Local residents and civil society organisations expressed alarm at the extensive deployment of military personnel during the search, as well as the wider routine targetting of former cadre.
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