As the news spread, a hartal (general strike) was launched throughout the district and Muslim youths began burning tyres on roads to disrupt traffic. Both Tamils and Muslims came under attack by stone throwing crowds. The police imposed a curfew from 11.30am on 16 October. Mr Wajeed was found at his home on 18 October and it turned out that he was never abducted. The police arrested him and the local magistrate ordered him to be remanded in custody. Allegations have been made that powerful political parties were behind the deception, in an effort to create chaos and destabilise the peace process. Army restrictions in the east continue. The Bakiella-Amparai road was opened on 5 October after 12 years. But eight roads within Batticaloa town remain closed to the public for security reasons. People say that this is causing congestion. The military has announced that there will be no restrictions on fishing in Batticaloa District. But fishermen in Kayankerni and Vaddavan say that the Army is not allowing them to fish either in the sea or the Batticaloa lagoon.
According to reports, courts established by the LTTE, west of the Batticaloa lagoon, now hear 40 cases a day, four days a week. The courts take up family disputes, including applications for divorce and disputes relating to transactions and land. Village-level development committees have been set-up to enforce decisions of courts.
Although the LTTE has declared that there will be no child or forcible recruitment, complaints continue to persist. Reports say Sivakumaran Kathirananthan took refuge in Kumburumoolai Army camp on 3 October to escape recruitment. P Chandrakala, 16, lodged a complaint at Urani police station that LTTE women cadre attempted to abduct her on 6 October. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) chief Trond Furuhovde says that the LTTE were allowing underage combatants to return home, but more needs to be done.
In Trincomalee District, the security forces say that they intercepted a Sea Tiger boat on 1 November with communication equipment and claymore (remote-controlled) mines, off Thoppur. Under the ceasefire agreement of 22 February, the parties are prohibited from moving munitions and military equipment into areas controlled by the other party. The Trincomalee magistrate ordered the six Tigers in the boat to be held in custody. The SLMM said that arms transport is a serious breach of the ceasefire pact and called on the LTTE to strictly abide by the agreement.