STF threatens shop owners in Batticaloa city, collects details

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 16:15 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF) commandos in Batticaloa city have been collecting personal of details of the employees of the various business establishments as well as the occupants of the residences within Batticaloa police division for the past four days, residents in the city said. The STF commandos have further threatened the shop owners that if any bombs fixed to bicycles parked outside their stores ever explode and cause causalities to the commandos, they would be targeted in retaliation.

The owners of these establishments have been ordered not to park bicycles in front of the stores.

The STF personnel visiting the business establishments have obtained the identity cards of the employees and have been recording details about them.

The STF commandos were also inspecting the houses in the area by searching the premises and collecting details of the residents, their place of origin and identity card numbers of the occupants of each household.

Government employees from remote areas, residing in Batticaloa city have begun facing severe hard ships due to the new measures being enforced by the STF, residents complained.