TMVP says the camp is a political office but police express concern

An armed group claiming themselves to be from Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) has taken over a deserted building Thambalagamuwa on Sunday 17 August.

Journalist RG Dharmadasa who visited the area on Monday says he noticed that the group has written TMVP in Tamil and in English on the front walls.

A group armed with T56 automatic rifle and bullets was protesting the premises.

Police 'not aware'

Local police officers expressed serious concern over the establishment of the camp as normalcy gradually returns to the area.

	Police spokesman says he is not aware of the camp

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) is the deputy leader of the TMVP.

The TMVP is led by the breakaway LTTE leader Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan also known as Karuna Amman.

Maran, who introduced himself as the leader of the group, told the journalist that they decided to camp in the area to prevent increasing abductions reported from the area.

The TMVP Trincomalee district leader told BBC Sandeshaya that the camp is a political office of the TMVP.

However, police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said he was not aware of any TMVP camp in Tambalagamuwa.