Jaffna rape troops arrested

Jaffna rape troops arrested

COLOMBO (Reuters): Sri Lanka's army said on Thursday two soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman from the Tamil minority.

The army also retracted allegations the crime had been committed by Tamil Tiger guerrillas.

The victim, a 42-year-old resident of the Meesalai area in the northern Jaffna peninsula, was raped last Saturday by "armed men in military fatigues", according to police reports.

"It appears that two soldiers at a nearby army checkpoint could have been involved in the incident and they have been handed over to the police," said military spokesman Brig. Sanath Karunaratne.

A pro-rebel web site said on Monday the rape had been carried out by a group of soldiers who beat up the victim's 82-year-old mother when she tried to prevent the attack.