Police violate privacy rights of Mukaththuvaaram residents

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 January 2008, 14:13 GMT]
New forms with the details of residents to be registered with Mukaththuvaaram police issued Tuesday, were expected to be handed Wednesday at the police station or to policemen who come to their houses. This matter has created anxiety and fear among Mukaththuvaaram residents as details of personal bank accounts are to be filled in the new forms. The absence of any official police or government symbol in the new forms has raised suspicions among the householders about the intention and source of these registration forms, sources in Colombo said.

The registration forms hitherto used by the police to register the names of residents in each house in the area have not asked for the personal accounts and other details including the balance remaining, which seems illegal, the worried residents of Mukaththuvaaram said.

Mukaththuvaaram house holders are at a quandary as to submit the forms filled with the details asked or to avoid doing so.

The police, however, said the house holders need not worry as they have to inform the local police authority of new residents and renters, a security measure currently in force in Colombo region.

Meanwhile, political parties and Peoples’ Vigilant Committee said that the new forms are illegal, incorrect and violate the privacy rights of residents.

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