A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP has raised suspicion about the timing of the killings of two police officers in Batticaloa, claiming the killings were instigated to create political chaos.
“This incident occurred after the [TNA] parliamentary group announced in writing that it would support a United National Front government,” parliamentarian for the Vanni district Charles Nirmalanathan said in parliament on Wednesday. “We are of the opinion that this could have been carried out purely to cause chaos in the country.”
“Intelligence forces already operate in a way that intimidates former fighters in the North-East and surveillances their everyday lives,” he said, adding that “the Vavunathivu incident must be condemned and those connected must be arrested.”
Since the killing of the two police officers at Vavunathivu in Batticaloa, at least two former LTTE cadres have been detained and at least twenty individuals questioned by the police. Locals held a protest yesterday condemning the targeting and scapegoating of former cadres.
Ramped up operations by the police, Special Task Forces (STF) and the Sri Lankan army have also created a climate of fear in the district.