Vanni people fleeing towards Mannar

Amidst preparations by LTTE for a major confrontation with the security forces, the people in the LTTE controlled Vanni are allegedly fleeing towards Mannar.

While the LTTE is preparing the Vanni grounds for battle, by conscripting children and compelling people to construct bunkers, the Vanni people are escaping towards Mannar through Pallimunai and Vidataltivu in large numbers. The Police and troops guarding the checkpoints are providing protection to the fleeing people.

On Saturday (21/7) ten persons had arrived into the government controlled areas from the LTTE controlled Vanni. The escapees face many problems including punishment of forced labour. The LTTE’s Health Sector forcibly takes people irrespective of age and sex, in their vehicles and compels them to donate blood. They are carrying on the blood donation campaign. Besides, school children are directed to take arms training without permission being obtained from the teachers.

The fleeing Vanni people further said that over 400 undergraduates of the Jaffna University are forced to undergo arms training in Vanni. The LTTE is engaging the ordinary civilians to mine the areas that were earlier de-mined, the Vanni people said in Mannar.