Bus services cancellation inconveniences people

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 November 2000, 19:25 GMT]
Passenger bus services run by the Peoplized Transport Board and the Multi Purposes Co-operative Society (MPCS) to LTTE held villages through Vavunathivu from Batticaloa town have been stopped on the instructions of the security forces, officials concerned said.

Bus services from Batticaloa hospital to Manalpitty and Kokaddicholai through Vavunatheivu have also been stopped. The Peoplized Transport Board and the Eechantheivu-Kannankuda MPCS had run these bus services. Another bus service to Karaveddy from Batticaloa also has been stopped on the orders of the security forces, officials said.

Due to the sudden stoppage of several passenger bus services, the people of Paduvankarai area are undergoing hardships to come to the Batticaloa town to buy their provisions and to do their day to day activities, sources said.

People from LTTE controlled Paduvankarai area now come to Batticaloa town by foot with great hardships through the checkpoint manned by Special Task Force (STF), close to the airport. At this checkpoint people undergo severe examination by the security personnel, said the sources.

People are being forced to carry their bicycles on their shoulders. Some are even assaulted by the STF personnel. Harassment of the people has risen to a peak, local residents said.

People from Veechukalmunai, Puthur, Chethukuda, Thimilaitheivu of the Paduvankarai area come to the Army controlled Batticaloa town through this SLAF checkpoint close to the airport, sources said.