Public access to Batticaloa Police Station restricted

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2003, 11:46 GMT]
Batticaloa residents are being forced to register their complaints in the checkpoint located in the main road and are not being admitted inside the Batticaloa Police station starting from Monday, local reports said. Police officials said that this procedure is instituted for the benefit of the public, according to reports.

People are undergoing severe hardships having to wait for hours outside braving the weather to record their complaints with the Police.

Batticaloa residents have long been demanding the Police to open the Old Rest House Road which is closed to traffic by the Police. Residents say that the new procedure to deal with the public at the checkpoint outside is to scuttle the demand for re-opening of this road.

Residents added that Batticaloa Police may also be attempting to strengthen the safety and security of Police personnel inside the station.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have ordered the public to not to enter the Weber Stadium in Batticaloa without carrying an Identity Card and have prohibited access to the stadium after 6.30pm according to local reports.