Vavuniya Police commended for action against crimes

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 May 2004, 14:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police in Vavuniya has arrested fifteen suspects in connection with armed robberies, house-breaks, murders and abductions in Vavuniya town and surrounding areas, and recovered jewelry and cash worth 3 million rupees. The Police are also seeking the arrest of three hardcore criminals involved in the incidents who are currently working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna, police sources in Vavuniya said Friday.

The District Judge in the northern town, Mr. M. Ilancheliyan, has commended the Vavuniya Police for arresting the suspects in the crimes and thereby easing the fears of the public, sources said.

The robberies and murders had created a sense of fear and panic among the public in Vavuniya, and had become a challenge to the law and order situation in the town. The police has arrested the suspects and brought 35 cases at the Vavuniya District Court.

Between August 2003 and March 2004, there were 60 house-breaks, 5 armed robberies and 8 murders in the Vavuniya town and surrounding areas, according to complaints made by the victims to the police.

In order to prevent such incidents, Judge Ilancheliyan had organized a meeting of Police officials and public at the District court premises, where the public formed vigilance committees to cooperate with the police.

According to a directive from the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Vanni region, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Miskin personally directed the investigations. Mr. Kasturiratna, the Assistant Superintendent of Police supervised the investigations.

Crime Prevention Bureau Inspector Mr. Nesarajah led the investigations with the cooperation of Vavuniya Police Head Quarters Inspector Wijenaike.

The robberies and murders had created a sense of fear and panic among the public in Vavuniya, and had become a challenge to the law and order situation in the Northern town. The police has arrested the suspects and brought 35 cases at the Vavuniya District Court.

The police told the Judge that they have arrested 15 suspects, out of whom 6 are hardcore criminals. The suspects are remanded.

On a directive from the Judge, the police conducted investigations in front of prison officials and with the cooperation of the prison officials, recovered the stolen items, such as jewelry that had been sold and pawned, two motor cycles and a tractor that the suspects had bought using the money obtained by selling the stolen jewelry.

Three of the suspects were arrested in Jaffna by the Jaffna Police and brought to Vavuniya. Police investigators said that two of these suspects face 10 cases each at the Jaffna Magistrate’s court.

Meanwhile, the Police also brought to the attention of the Judge that 3 hardcore criminal suspects involved in the Vavuniya incidents still at large are in Jaffna and are operating jointly with the Sri Lanka Army. Judge Ilancheliyan issued a warrant to arrest the three through the SLA's Jaffna district commander, the Senior Superintendent of Police in Jaffna, and the Commanding Officer of the Military Police at its Head Quarters.