2 April 2010 05:15 am
The Ealam Peoples Democratic Front (EPDP) has slammed the TULF led by V. Anandasangaree for claiming there are armed groups operating in the North and question if the party was attempting to point fingers at the government for the recent death of a youth in Jaffna.
EPDP spokesman M. Stalin, speaking to Daily Mirror online on behalf of EPDP leader Douglas Devananda insisted that the EPDP does not have any weapons and is also not responsible for the death of the young school boy in Chavakachcheri who was abducted for ransom last week.
In a letter addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a copy of which was sent to the media, Mr. V. Anandasangaree said that he could not understand why the government is reluctant to take action in spite of repeated requests from him and much more from the public.
“During the past few years I had been repeatedly requesting you to relieve all armed groups of their weapons and to provide them with Government Security if they ask for it. If firm action had been taken it would have saved the lives of several and also the good name of the Government,” Mr. V. Anandasangaree said in his letter.
The decomposed body of a 17 year old student who was abducted two weeks back for ransom had been found buried in a pit last week and at least one suspect had been arrested and remanded over the incident while some others are still wanted.
“Please take immediate steps to compel all un-authorized persons in possession of arms and all groups to surrender the arms in their possession which will enable witnesses to come out openly to give evidence without any fear of retaliation by interested parties,” the TULF leader said.
However the EPDP says it is only the government which has weapons and questioned who the TULF leader is pointing fingers to by saying there are “armed groups” operating in the North.
“Who is he pointing fingers at? It is only the government which has weapons. He (Anandasangaree) always comes out with such statements when an election is at hand. We feel there are attempts to sling mud at the EPDP before the upcoming General Election,” Stalin told Daily Mirror online. (Daily Mirror online)