The fate of four Navy men who went on a coastal patrol in an inshore craft off the seas of Mullaitivu still remains a mystery to the Navy and Police investigators.
They are unable to ascertain how they went missing. The investigators have found that the missing boat that was recovered held three assault rifles. However, the outboard motor fixed to the craft had gone missing.
Several aspects were now being probed, Navy sources said. One such aspect is whether the disappearance was staged by the sailors to travel abroad for employment. “We are trying to ascertain whether they had any contacts with sources who could have helped them to seek asylum or employment abroad,” a Navy source said.
Police said they were interviewing close family members including the wives of the missing sailors for any clue. The navy personnel went missing on March 29 while they were on a routine movement between detachments north of Mullaitivu.
The Navy sources said the assistance of the Indian Coast Guard was also sought in a bid to trace the missing men, while the air force and the navy were also conducting a search operation in the area. |
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