STF attack sparks shutdown in Kaluwanchikudy

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 April 2003, 22:05 GMT]
A general shutdown was observed in Kaluwanchikudy in the Batticaloa district on Monday to protest against the attack by Special Task Force (STF) personnel on people who were participating in a rope pulling game against the STF team at the New Year Sports competition, held in the town on Sunday, sources said.

The sports event was jointly organized by the local Chamber of Commerce, the Police and the public. At this event, a team of STF personnel participated in a rope pulling game against a team of the public and the latter won the game. Angered by their loss, the STF personnel attacked the public, causing injuries to Kanapathipillai Satchithanantham(40) and S. Perinpam(42), who were admitted to the local hospital for treatment. The event was disrupted and was stopped halfway, sources said.

As the public on Monday gathered to protest the unruly attack by the STF personnel, Mr. Wimalaratne, the STF’s Officer In Charge (OIC), asked the people not to protest against the STF and held a meeting with them in which Mr. Nanayakara, the Batticaloa district Deputy Superintendent of Police and G. Krishnapillai, the Batticaloa district parliamentarian (MP) also participated.

At the meeting, Mr. Wimalaratne said that STF personnel would not have acted like that and instead blamed the public for the violence. The MP strongly condemned the assertion by the OIC and said it was a deliberate attack by the STF and the public could identify the attackers if the STF team that participated at the rope pulling game was brought to an identification parade. The MP said that in the current environment of peace, such action by the STF would disrupt the peace and stern action should be taken against the attackers.

Mr. Wimalaratne then said that he would investigate and take action and asked the people to not carry out protests, sources said.