Three policemen have been detained by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in Sri Lanka' s rebel-controlled northern area, defense officials said Sunday.

They are being held by the LTTE in the Northern Province since Friday night in the Arippu area of Mannar district, the officials added.

The policemen were held by the Tigers when they ventured into an area under rebel control to investigate into a complaint of child abuse.

Two woman officers, two Catholic priest and a civilian who had accompanied the three policemen were later released by the Tigers.

The government has reported the incident to the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission established to ensure the government and the LTTE to carry out a cease-fire agreement signed in 2002 between the two parties.

Source: Xinhua