Hoodlums search, rob Tamil passengers in trains

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 December 2008, 02:30 GMT]
Incidents of Tamil passengers robbed by Sinhala gangs in trains running between Vavuniyaa, Trincomalee and Batticaloa, and Colombo have escalated at alarming rate, according to civil sources. Sinhala hoodlums enter trains when the trains stop at Ragama, Veyangoda, Maho and Anuradhapura stations, and subject Tamil passengers to search amid security provided by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police, civil sources said.

Gangs have allegedly snatched gold chains, money and other valuable items from Trincomalee passengers.

Security personnel in charge of railway stations have not taken any steps on complaints made by affected people, sources said.

Police spokesman Ranjit Gunasekara told media in Colombo that so far no one has made complaints at the police stations where incidents of robbery allegedly happened.

However, the police have been directed to investigate this matter immediately.