Night robberies escalate in Jaffna despite SLA presence

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 April 2009, 15:37 GMT]
Night time robberies in Jaffna town and other areas of the peninsula which is under the complete control of Sri Lanka Amy have escalated markedly in the recent past. Though persons caught red-handed had been handed over either to the police or the SLA most of them have not been produced in the court, civil society sources in Jaffna raised accusation. As the culprits caught operate closely with SLA-backed paramilitary men in Jaffna, they manage to escape prosecution and punishment, the sources alleged.

Meanwhile, SLA was engaged Friday and Saturday in instructing public over loud speakers fitted to their vehicles not to keep jewelry or cash in their houses but to keep them in the safe deposits in the local banks, in an attempt to prevent the robberies.

The people, however, are afraid and suspicious of this announcement as most of the robberies take place in houses near SLA sentry posts and camps.

For the second time last week, a business establishment in Jaffna town where SLA soldiers are present day and night has been robbed during night.