STF, police in Eastern Province continue to harass people

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2010, 12:55 GMT]
People travelling from Batticaloa to Paduvaankarai complain that the Special Task Force (STF) commandos and police subject them to harassment and restrictions in the check-posts located on Karuththa Paalam (Black Bridge), Vavu’natheevu and Kiraan Bridge. STF and police order the travelers to get down from their vehicles and walk to the check-posts with their baggage and children besides being made to wait for long in the hot sun, they said. STF commandos who had occupied many private shops and houses in Eastern Province during war continue to harass the public in the name of searches and checking.

Meanwhile, STF commandos who had vacated the primary school building in Veapavaddavaan in Chengkaladi a month ago have now returned and put up sentry posts in the school building.

The affected parents have requested the related authorities to move the STF commandos from the building.

Similar request has been made to remove the police check-post located in Malvaththai junction in Ampaa’rai district.

The residents of the Tamil villages of Ka’napathipuram and Mallikaiththeevu near Malvaththai are unable to attend to their daily activities in the public markets, hospital, Regional Secretariat, sub-post office and shops being subjected to various inconveniences, according to leading citizens of the area.

People have complained about the harassment and inconvenience to Mavai Senathirajah, General Secretary of Tamil National Alliance and parliamentarian.