Military tightens Jaffna security

Tuesday, 25 January 2011 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Hindu: Asserting that the incidents of robberies and killings in Jaffna were not peculiar merely to the north, the top Military Commander of the region announced a series of measures on Saturday to curb these incidents.

R. K. Radhakrishnan

“Army will intensify present security measures by increasing random checks, snap roadblocks and night patrols in different areas including the city from today onwards. These measures are taken not to harass anybody but to prevent unlawful happenings in Jaffna for the safety of peace-loving people. During his recent visit to Jaffna, the President instructed to take all possible actions to stop the rising wave of petty crimes within the peninsula and make a peaceful environment for the people to live in,” Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said at a meeting convened to review the security situation in the north.

He assured that no security personnel were involved in such anti-social activities. Some organised groups were trying to tarnish the image of the Security Forces and the Police.

The Sri Lankan Defence and Media Centre for National Security websites said that round-the-clock motor bike patrols had been introduced to check violence.” If the situation escalates, body searches in the Jaffna check points will also be conducted,” Major General Hathurusinghe was quoted as saying.

He contended that” some incidents of looting and burglaries are not specific only to Jaffna and those incidents normally take place anywhere in the island. However, some interested parties are trying to highlight a few of such incidents occurring in Jaffna to show the world that Jaffna is still not safe. The main duty of the Security Forces is to ensure peace and harmony in the peninsula while assisting the Police to maintain law and order.”