Jaffna robbers using army uniforms

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 19:09 GMT]
The SLA in Jaffna said that it has caught two robbers who were looting a house around 6.30 a.m. in the morning yesterday. The SLA said that the robbers were civilians dressed in army uniforms. The army statement said that investigations are underway.

Robberies in Jaffna have increased phenomenally in recent months said informed sources. In many instances the thieves had been in dressed military fatigues, entering their victims' houses on the pretext of searching for LTTE suspects.

Two houses were robbed last Thursday by a gang of theives who severely assaulted people in the areas who attempted to apperehend them. One of the persons assaulted by the robbers has been admitted to the Jaffna hospital.

Another house was robbed in Manipay on Tuesday by a group of persons dressed in military uniform.

Community leaders in several parts of Jaffna afflicted by the spate of robberies have appealed to the army and some Tamil groups operating with the SL security forces over the impunity with which the theiving gangs are operating in the peninsula despite the presence of troops and SL Police everywhere.