SLA commandos arrested in botched heist

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 March 2000, 17:28 GMT]
Two Special Forces commandos of the Sri Lanka army who took part in a botched robbery of a rural bank south of Colombo were arrested by the Police this afternoon. Police sources in Colombo said that this is the first instance in which elite special forces commandos in active service have been taken into custody for gang robbery.

The two commandos had been part of a well armed gang that had forced its way into the bank in Pothupitiya in the Kalutara district this afternoon. Police had rushed to the spot on a tip off about the robbery.

The two SLA commandos had fired at the Police party as the gang attempted to escape from the bank. The driver of the gang's getaway vehicle was killed when Police returned fire.

A senior Police officer in Kalutara said that investigations are under to determine how the special forces commandos had taken part in the robbery with their weapons and could have taken time off from their units to be in Kalutara for the heist. It is a worrisome development said another officer at the Police Headquarters in Colombo.

The widespread involvement of SLA deserters in extortion, robbery, murder and rape was underscored by Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Justice Prof.G.L Pieris last week at a briefing to apprise the press of his government's intention to strenghten penal law to contain the rising crime rate.

The Sri Lankan army spends approximately 375,000 rupees to train each commando of its special forces. The elite unit is part of the army's 53 division and is also trained by US special forces.

 

Latest 15 Reports
24.04.22 05:44  
தீவின் நெருக்கடிச் சூழலில் ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசம் கடைப்பிடிக்கவேண்டிய நிலைப்பாடுகள்
09.04.22 14:44   Photo
குறிதவறும் ஈழத்தமிழர் தலைமைகளுக்கு வரலாறு தருகின்ற எச்சரிக்கை
21.01.22 07:24   Photo
ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசத்தின் தலைமைத்துவம் தேர்தல் அரசியற் கட்சிகளுக்கு அப்பாலானது
02.11.21 15:32   Photo
13 ஆம் சட்டத்திருத்தத்தால் கட்டமைக்கப்பட்ட இன அழிப்பை எதிர்கொள்ள முடியுமா?
15.09.21 08:19  
English version not available
17.05.21 19:23   Photo
Ananthi blames war criminal Silva for blocking collective memorial at Mu'l'livaaykkaal
09.04.21 14:46  
English version not available
23.03.21 12:41   Photo
No focus on Tamil genocide, geopolitics gets played out in Geneva in favour of QUAD formation
21.03.21 13:34   Photo
Navi Pillay explains ‘human rights’ limitations in Geneva on Tamil genocide
15.03.21 20:36   Photo
Deceived Tamil activists in UK falsely claimed ‘substantial changes’ to Zero draft
09.03.21 21:34   Photo
UK repeatedly wronged Tamils says hunger-striker, demands genocide justice
26.02.21 11:53   Photo
Tamils witness false dilemma in Geneva as geopolitical formations pit against each other
19.02.21 14:02   Photo
UK not prepared to push for ICC option in new UNHRC Resolution
07.02.21 23:16   Photo
Unprecedented P2P uprising paves the way for rights-oriented politics of Tamils and Muslims
22.01.21 08:01   Photo
Gotabaya sets up deceptive COI citing ‘sovereignty’ and ‘non-aligned’ foreign policy
 
Find this article at:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=4868