JVP-era policemen rewarded - paper

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 December 1998, 17:58 GMT]
The Sinhala weekly Ravaya in its latest issue said 65 Sri Lankan Police officers who were involved in the brutal anti-JVP campaign during late 80s have been given promotions and cash rewards.

The paper published names of some of the Policemen whom, according to the paper, had received cash awards between 25,000 and 300,000 rupees.

During the JVP era, the Sri Lankan security forces are said to have massacred over 60,000 youth in counter-insurgency operations. The Sri Lankan police are military trained and also participate in counter-insurgency operations.

The paper also said the Colombo councilor, Mohammed Imtiaz representing the ruling PA, who was shot dead on Wednesday was believed to have been killed by a rival underworld gang lead by 'Suthakaran'.

The paper said Mohammed Imtiaz was leading another underworld gang consisting 15 armed men and had earlier fought with 'Suthakaran'.

The paper further said Imtiaz's group was also involved in 12 murderers. Imtiaz himself was charged for one of the murders.

Mohammed Imtiaz was shot dead by men in a van, while he was travelling in auto-rickshaw with a friend.

Meanwhile unidentified gunmen attacked Samurdhi employees who were staging a protest fast in front of their office at Battaramulla around 3 a.m. yesterday.

The employees had been fasting since December 7, demanding permanent employment and the re-installment of 4 employees who had been suspended, including the secretary. Six protestors were wounded, one critically, in the attack.

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