Police blocks fuel delivery to Verugal co-operative

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 June 2006, 11:09 GMT]
The Trincomalee Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) has lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) located in the east port town that a lorry load of fuel transported to the Verugal MPCS was taken into custody with its crew by the Kantalai Police, sources said. Verugal MPCS is located in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held Eachchilampathu division in the Trincomalee district.

The fuel was intended for use by villagers in the Eachchilampathu division, Verugal MPCS sources said.

Trincomalee MPCS President in his complaint has said the transportation of fuel to Verugal MPCS was done with the permission of the Trincomalee Government Agent, sources said.

Trincomalee MPCS had sent a consignment of fuel in a lorry to Verugal MPCS on a written request made by the Verugal MPCS General Manager on a credit basis as a routine procedure.

The Police had stopped the lorry at Kantalai and arrested the driver and cleaner of the vehicle and produced them before the Kantalai Magistrate who ordered remand for them. The lorry with fuel is also in the custody of the court, legal sources said.

The Kantalai Magistrate refused bail application filed in support of the driver and cleaner of the lorry and put off the inquiry for another date.

Trincomalee MPCS officials told court that the fuel had been sent to Verugal MPCS legally way.

The Trincomalee MPCS management has now brought this matter to the notice of the SLMM and the Trincomalee regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), sources said.