Armed paramilitaries rob bus in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 February 2007, 11:53 GMT]
Karuna group armed paramilitaries in military fatigues waylaid a Colombo bound civilian bus from Kathankudy in Batticaloa on Sithandy main road in Eravur police division Tuesday around 8:20 p.m., and robbed Rs. 1,500,000 rupees, several national identity cards, 15 hand phones and jewellery from the passengers, according to complaints made to Eravur police.

The armed robbery took place between Mavadi Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp and Murakodanchenai SLA camp near which an office of Karuna group is situated, sources in Sithandy said.

The bus belongs to person from Ottamavadi and had begun its journey from Kathankudy to Colombo with 45 passengers around 7:30 p.m. and was waylaid near Sithandy Murugan temple junction.

Eravur police said that small vans had been robbed some days ago at the same place and the Tuesday night robbery was the biggest.

Sri Lanka Minister Amir Ali has instructed Batticaloa Senior Superintendent Maxie Proctor to take immediate action regarding robbery.

Sithandy is located 20 km north of Batticaloa.