The Sri Lankan navy reported it had arrested at least 9 people in Point Pedro this week, claiming that those held had been engaged in “illegal sand mining”.
The “9 civilians and a tractor” were reportedly held along the Point Pedro – Manatkadu road on Monday. They have since been taken to the Point Pedro Police Station for “further investigations,” according to an official navy website.
The arrest comes as part of a crackdown and a spate of arrests by Sri Lankan security forces in the peninsula.
Thunnalai residents have filed a complaint against STF and police round-up operations, that resulted in 24 arrests in the area, to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
Last month Sri Lankan police also shot dead an unarmed Tamil man in Jaffna, claiming he was engaged in illegal sand mining. The killing triggered widespread protests in the region.
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