Tamil student detained by anti-terror police at Sabaragamuwa University

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Protest at Sabaragamuwa University after arrest of Tamil student by TID (BBC Tamil)

A Tamil student was arrested at Sabaragamuwa University, in the island's south, by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) on Tuesday, reports the Daily Mirror.

Yoganathan Nirojan, a second-year student from Nedunkerni, Vavuniya, was arrested on alleged suspicion of involvement in terrorism, reported BBC Tamil.

His parents have filed a complaint at the Human Rights Commission, whilst students from the university protested against the arrest, calling for his release.

Following the end of the armed conflict, Nirojan underwent the government's 'rehabilitation' programme for those alleged to be associated with the LTTE. He was released in 2011 and joined Sabaragamuwa university.

Nirojan has been taken to Colombo for further investigations and will be produced before court, his mother, Mallikavathy Yoganathan told BBC Tamil.

Commenting on the arrest, Sri Lanka's police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said "a group is behind the recent incident at the university with the intention of causing resentment".

According to Rohana, the student arrested was identified as belonging to that group and has been arrested based on that information, following a TID investigation that allegedly found "suspicious information" on his mobile phone.

If his links with terrorism are proven, he will be taken to court, Rohana added.

Earlier this month, a Tamil student was attacked and severely beaten by masked men. He was admitted to hospital with his injuries. See more here.

Meanwhile, posters appeared across the university campus warning Tamil and Muslim students to leave or be killed, accusing them of being members of the LTTE.

Listing the names of Tamil and Muslim students, one poster, written in broken Tamil, read: "Muslim, Tamil students do not study here, if you do, we will shoot and kill. Women - rape you and kill.. otherwise shoot and kill".

See more here

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