Tamil activists who take part in protests highlight the disappearances of those who surrendered to the army, are under surveillance by the Terrorism Investigation Department and complain of harassment by the security forces.

S Yogeswari (name changed), whose husband was in the political wing of the LTTE and disappeared after surrendered to the army on May 18, 2009, told the New Indian Express that she lives in fear due to close surveillance.

She has been taking part in the recent demonstrations highlighting the disappearance of LTTE members who had surrendered to the army.

“Because I participate in these demonstrations, teams of investigators, including those from the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID), frequently visit me. When they come in the evenings, my kids and I get frightened,” the 45-year-old mother of three said.

Ms Yogeswari said incidence of rape and kidnapping, attributed to “unidentified persons”, continue in her area and add to her fears. “I never leave my kids alone in the house and insist on dropping them and picking them up from school,” she said.

She complains that while the army gives jobs to unqualified girls, paying them Rs 30,000 per month, she is unable to be employed despite her educational qualification and experience as a clerk. “I have to make do with Rs 6,000 I get per month from an NGO,” she said.

A former member of the LTTE, who went through the army’s “rehabilitation” programme, told the paper he was tortured after being captured in 2009 and said he is harassed by security forces due to his defiant nature and his close relationship with the TNA MP Sritharan.

“I am still a terrorist in their eyes. Every time there is an untoward incident here, I am investigated. My job applications are not entertained. When I set up a cable TV business, pressure was put on me to close it,” the 42-year-old father of three said.