Army, STF enter Puttlam

22 August 2011 06:26 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 26 Bookmark

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The Army and the elite Special Task Force (STF) took control of the Puttlam town after violent clashes erupted last night which resulted in the death of a 23 year old Police Constable and injuring five civilians.

All police officers in the area have been called in to the police station and are given heavy protection by the Army and the STF. No policemen have been stationed on duty around the area, police said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K. Illangakoon went to Puttlam today to discuss with the police as to how to deal with the situation. He held a meeting with senior police and army officers in the area.

Eyewitnesses said the 23-year-old constable was on his way back to the station after traffic duty when he was severely assaulted by the angry mob in front of the Sathosa retail outlet.

On Sunday evening a tense situation took place in Manalgunduwa area in Puttlam when at least five persons were injured during a shootout when villagers ran amok when the police prevented them from catching a person who they thought was a ‘Grease Devil’. The unrest between civilians and the security forces spread to the Puttlam town following the shootout.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said that currently the army has sent one company consisting of 120 troops.

“The law enforcement agencies will deal severely with those who spread rumours and attempt to provoke and mislead the public”, he said. “We are currently conducting foot and mobile patrols in the area. Mobile road blocks are also placed in the area,” Brigadier Hapuarachchi said. He assured that the situation is under control and no suspects have been arrested so far. “We searched to arrest those who were responsible in spreading the rumours but we did not arrest any individual in Puttlam,” he said.

In the same area in another incident, villagers turned angry when they were prevented from entering a house by some police constables on a motor bike. The people had then set fire to the bike and had assaulted one of the constables while the other had run away.

A number of statements were taken from people in the area but no arrest was made as the situation would worsen if an arrest was made, the police said. (Supun Dias and Hiran Priyankara Jayasingha)

Pics by Priyankara Jayasingha