The police arrested more suspects this week in the North in operations against anti-social activities and criminal gangs. At least 13 suspects were snared for their alleged involvement in the recent attack on two police constables of the Kopay police station in Kokkuvil area, Jaffna, police said. All suspects were produced in court and remanded [...]

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Jaffna violence : Sword-carriers among more suspects snared

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The police arrested more suspects this week in the North in operations against anti-social activities and criminal gangs.
At least 13 suspects were snared for their alleged involvement in the recent attack on two police constables of the Kopay police station in Kokkuvil area, Jaffna, police said.

All suspects were produced in court and remanded in custody until August 22 by the Jaffna Magistrate.

Three youths aged between 21 and 23 were arrested on Thursday for possession of swords in the Uduvil area. They will be produced before Mallakam courts.

Police spokesperson, SSP Ruwan Gunasekara, said several search operations were carried out in various parts of the North.

In a separate operation by the security forces, more than 20 people were arrested in the Thunnalai area of Vadamarachchi.

Relatives of 24 suspects in detention filed complaints with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka office in Jaffna this week alleging arrest without evidence.

The police said the suspects were involved in violent incidents after a youth was killed in a police shoot-out.

The Jaffna District Parliamentarian representing the Tamil National Alliance, S Shritharan told Parliamenton Wednesday that criminal gangs operating in Jaffna including the notorious “Aava” clan, are affiliated with the security forces. The police denied the claim.

He alleged that after the war ended in 2009, these criminal gangs were created by the security forces to carry out their own agendas, but now a perception has been created in the country that the shadow of terrorism is looming again.

“They were working with the security forces, why can’t they be controlled by the same actors who are involved in this? The government should take immediate action to make sure law and order in the region is maintained,” he said.

Military spokesman Brigadier Roshan Seneviratne said there was no need for the armed forces to create such groups since other institutions are tasked with maintaining law and order. “This is totally false. We have no links with these groups,”
Police spokesperson SSP Gunasekara said investigations will zoom in on the origin of the gang.

Navy spokesperson, Lieutenant Commander Chaminda Walakuluge, said surveillance activities haven been stepped up with the assistance of Sri Lanka Coastguard to combat illegal sand mining and drug smuggling.

“The people are very supportive for our efforts. Without their input we can’t take effective steps to stop this menace. With the support of community organisations and exchange of information, we are trying our best to eradicate these anti-social activities,” he said.

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