Hindu orphanage in security zone robbed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 April 2000, 03:14 GMT]
The Ramakrishna Mission in Batticaloa was robbed at gun point by an armed gang last night around 10.30 p.m. The mission is located by the Police camp in Kallady, a densely populated suburb on the southern outskirts of the Batticaloa town. The Sri Lanka army has a base behind the premises of this Hindu mission cum orphanage.

The gang had tied up the chief incumbent of the Batticaloa Ramakrishna mission, Swami Jeevanandajee, before going off with hundred and fifty thousand rupees. There were 89 students of the orphanage and five of their supervisors at the time of the robbery.

The well armed gang of three had entered the mission from the rear and one of them had held Swami Jeevanandajee at gun point while the others had locked up the five supervisors and all the orphanage students in a room.

The gunmen had threatened to kill the chief incumbent if anyone in the room were to call for help.

A spokesman for the Batticaloa Ramakrishna Mission said that the money robbed last night was mostly donations from individuals for the maintenance of the orphanage.

The Ramakrishna Mission orphanage has 201 students, including 76 at the Saratha Girls' Home and 36 at the mission's branch at Karaithivu, about 46 kilometers south of Batticaloa. It costs about 2000 rupees (27.7 USD) per month to maintain each student at the orphanage the mission's spokesman said.

Hundreds of people were at the mission this morning upon hearing about the robbery.

Meanwhile the Police arrested three soldiers of the Razeek group today in connection with last night's robbery of the Ramakrishna mission in Batticaloa. The Razeek group is part of the National Guard Battalion of the Sri Lanka army.

An officer at the Kattaankudy Police station said that some weapons which were used in the robbery were recovered from the men. He added that the three Razeek group soldiers had confessed that they were responsible for the robbery.

The Police had arrested a person called Antony in Kallady earlier in the day. On information provided by him, Vijayarasa of Kalmunai and Amirthalingam of Addappalam were arrested in Batticaloa town.

Further investigations are on Kattaankudy Police said.