Police instructs Tamils in Moneragala to register details

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 16:19 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Police has instructed all Tamil residents above the age of ten in estates Muppanavalli, Maragala, Kumarathola and Ulaanthawa in Moneragala district to register themselves with their photographs with the respective police stations immediately. Those who fail to comply with the directive would be punished, the police has warned, residents said.

Photographers appointed by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Sri Lanka Police have been visiting these estates to take photographs of Tamil civilians enabling to them to forward their details with their photographers. Each Tamil civilian is charged Rs. 60,- for photograph.

Meanwhile, a member of the Uva Provincial Council and a leader of the Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), A.Aravindakumar, in a statement alleged that the instruction by the police was a blatant violation of human rights of the Tamil community in the district. The instruction of the police does not cover other communities, Sinhalese and Muslims.

Around 25,000 Tamils are living in Moneragala district.

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