691 incidents of violence so far -Police

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 November 2001, 17:06 GMT]
The incidents of election violence since the nominations were filed on October 27 soared to 691 Wednesday morning, Police Election Secretariat said. Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr.Gamini Navaratne, who is in charge of the Secretariat said his office received 70 complaints during the twenty hours that ended at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The main opposition United National Party has made 366 complaints. The ruling People's Alliance has lodged 229 complaints, 37 have been lodged by the Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna and 21 by Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

Chilaw, a town in the western province, still holds the top spot on the list with more than ninety complaints, followed by Anuradhapura, Kegalle, Tangalle and Gampaha, police sources said.

The Police Election Secretariat said it has formulated a special plan to curb the increase of election violence.

Meanwhile Mr.Alick Aluvihare, a former minister and a UNP candidate contesting Matale district was arrested by the Police Tuesday for allegedly damaging a vehicle belonging to Rattota Pradesya Sabah. The Matale Magistrate released him on one hundred thousand rupees surety bail and fixed the inquiry for 9 February next year.