No persons can carry arms in Batticaloa from August 1- DIG

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 August 2009, 07:58 GMT]
No one would be allowed to carry arms in Batticaloa district except police personnel and members of the State armed forces, said the Eastern Region Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Mr. Edison Gunatilake, said. He made this announcement at a meeting held Thursday evening at Thevanayagam Hall in Batticaloa. Members of paramilitary groups, Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF-Padmanaba wing) and the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) and senior police and Special Task Force (STF) personnel attended the meeting along with businessmen and entrepreneurs of the district.

“Robberies and other crimes are on the increase in Batticaloa. Local gangs of criminals are engaged in committing these crimes. Within one week police would arrest these culprits. Criminals responsible for the crimes are not outsiders but are from the area. Orders have been issued to the law enforcement authority to arrest them or shoot them at sight to apprehend them,” the DIG said.

“Traders should sell their products and goods at prices fixed by the authority concerned and they cannot sell the produce at increased price stating that they are paying extortion money to underworld gangs anymore,” the DIG further stated.