50 election candidates get police protection in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 January 2008, 00:41 GMT]
Fifty candidates belonging to United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), National Congress and Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) have obtained police protection, political sources in Batticaloa said. Two policemen are to be assigned every candidate, Vasantha Nanayakkara, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) said Tuesday.

The details of the number of candidates who have already sought protection in various police divisions are:

Vazhaichcheanai police division -20 Ea’raavoor police division – 12 Kaththankudy police division -18

Every candidate who requests will be provided protection , DIGP said.

A United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidate was abducted Friday and released the following day after being severely assaulted.

Election related violent incidents are on the increase in the Muslim regions of Batticaloa district.

Vaazhaicheanai has seen the most violent incidents taking place since the beginning of the week including an attack Sunday on a UPFA candidate in Ea’raavoor.

There have been 3 incidences of election related violences in Vazhaichcheanai while there was one such incidence in Ea’raavoor.

831 candidates are contesting the nine local councils in Batticaloa district .