The police have arrested the residents of Thandiadi who were badly beaten by the STF

In the western coastal town of Kalpitiya residents have arrested a man suspected of being grease yaka and handed over to the police.

But the police have released the suspect saying he was suffering from a mental illness.

In Batticaloa, a clash has erupted between the local people and the police in Palmunai, Kathankudy on Friday night after the villagers spotted two strangers.

The villagers had thrown stones at the police forcing the police to call Sri Lanka army in.

Even when we make a small noise, the police are on the spot. We are suspicious about the police. We are asking them not to come to our villages A resident in Thandiadi, Batticaloa

Vehicles, houses and shops were damaged as a result, journalists say.

On Thursday, 18 residents of Thandiadi, a village where internally displaced people (IDPs) were recently resettled, were released on bail on a court order following a clash between the police Special Task Force (STF) and the villagers.

The police have arrested the residents who were badly beaten by the STF.

The clash has erupted after rumours spread that four unidentified people were brought in by vehicles to a jungle adjacent to the village.

“After attacks by the STF we came back home but the STF people even came into our houses and attacked us. All of us men, women were assaulted by sticks and even using stones,” a Thandiadi villager told BBC Sinhala service.

The situation is contributing to the mistrust between the police, security forces and the local population, villagers say

Journalists say many in Batticaloa fear to go out in the dark and leave the doors open at houses even when the residents are at home.

Those who usually come out to help when neighbours are in trouble, they say, now prefer to lock their homes if any strange noises heard.

“Even when we make a small noise, the police are on the spot. We are suspicious about the police. We are asking them not to come to our villages,” another resident told BBC Sandeshaya.

Mistrust

The 18 villagers are still being treated in Batticaloa teaching hospital.

Many others who were injured in the attack by the STF are not being treated as they fear reprisals, say local residents.

On Friday, students at Batticaloa nursing school have left the school after rumours that two mysterious people entered the student hostel.

Villagers in many areas claim that when suspects are handed over to the police they were released immediately.

Police spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody, however, says the allegations are baseless.

Villagers affected that the mysterious grease yaka phenomenon say the situation is contributing to the mistrust between the police, security forces and the local population.