The Sri Lankan government is arresting and mistreating innocent female relatives of men who it suspects are attempting to revive the LTTE, according to a rights group based on the island.

The Women’s Action Network has detailed the cases of six women who were arrested from the Northeast in a statement, adding that the Criminal Investigations Department is keeping the women in inhumane conditions denying them medical care, reported the Associated Press.

The rights group said five of the women were arrested for links to “Gopi”, who the government claims to be the “new leader” of the LTTE.

26-year-old Sharmila Gajeepan was pregnant when authorities arrested her, claiming she was the wife of Gopi, which she denies. She said she had a miscarriage while being questioned and was not only denied medical care but on the same night transported by train to a detention center nearly 60 miles away, the statement further said.

The Women’s Action Network also highlighted the case of Balendran Jeyakumari, a leading “disappearances” activist, who is accused by the government of harbouring “Gopi”.

"It doesn't appear that the officers treat these women as human beings. Officials transporting by train a woman, who on the same day had suffered a miscarriage without any medical help, is distressing," the statement said.

"Post-war the government is boastful about its achievements on women's rights and celebrates the Women's Day with much fanfare. But such degrading treatment of women is unacceptable."

Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said the women were detained for offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, including harbouring terrorist suspects and said that allegations of medical care being denied to the detainees would be investigated.