Ravaged by war for years, the civilians in the Northern Province
are now settling back into their lives. While the war ended over four years ago
and peace prevails, there have been news reports of increased gang
activity in the North. According to the reports, these groups have been
extorting money from Northern inhabitants. Even though the groups are not armed
with guns, gang members are said to travel on motorbikes carrying swords and
iron bars in an attempt to spread fear among the populace. However, in midst of
contradicting reports The Nation decided to embark on a journey of truth with
regards to this issue.
Locals
The
Nation was able to contact a few local residents regarding the issue. Speaking
on grounds of anonymity, a local alleged the groups which are engaged in
criminal activities have links to a particular political party in the area.
“Local authorities say the gang members are former LTTE cadres, but there are
no such cadres now as they have been rehabilitated by the government, the
persons involved in these crimes are linked to a political party,” the local said.
“This is well known among the public.” He opined that the military has not
clamped down on gang violence in the area, so they could use it as an excuse to
maintain military presence in the peninsular.
According
to the civilian the groups target the affluent. “They threaten to kidnap them
if they are not paid and sometimes they do carry out the threats and demand
ransom,” the local informed. According to him professionals such as doctors,
lawyers for example are targeted by these gangs. “The locals who are resident
abroad are afraid to return due to the extortions being carried out by these
groups,” the resident spoke from personal experience. There is an air of fear
among the wealthy, but apparently the average person is not affected.
Another
local alleged that these groups consist of youth who have been unable to secure
jobs after leaving school. “They engaged in rowdy behavior and disturb
day-to-day life.” He claimed that despite allegations, the Army is not involved
in any of these activities. According to him the activities of two groups going
by the names of Aawa and Dilo have been curtailed by the Police and criminal
activities are very much reduced in the North.
Police
Speaking
to The Nation of the gang activities, the Police media spokesperson SSP Ajith
Rohana emphasized there are no criminal gangs currently operating in the
Northern Province. “There is some petty theft in certain areas; however,
there are no criminal gangs in the North despite many false news reports
regarding the matter,” SSP Rohana said.
DIG of
Jaffna Police Rohan Dias concurred with the comments made by the Police media
spokesperson. “The Police have made arrests, and there is no gang activity in
the area now,” the DIG maintained.
In January the Police in fact arrested 12 persons in a series of raids in a
36-hour time frame in the Jaffna peninsula. The persons had engaged in
robberies and violence in the province. The Jaffna Police had arrested a
21-year-old gang leader who in return was able to give the Police more
information regarding other gang members. The police recovered 12 swords, three
knuckle-dusters, two hand grenades and six motorcycles from the arrested. At
the time DIG Dias had claimed that the Police were determined to crack down on
the Jaffna underworld. The Police squads assigned for the operation took
suspects in raids conducted in Kopay, Inuvil, Chunnakam, Kondavil, Manipay,
Jaffna and Athchuveli. Police at the time ruled out the gang’s affiliation to
any political party or group operating in the Jaffna peninsula despite such
allegations.
Public
Officials
The
District Secretary of Jaffna S. Arumainayaham confirmed the statements made by
the Police. “The Jaffna Police have dealt with the issues efficiently,”
Arumainayaham said, speaking to The Nation. “Now such crimes have become rare
occurrences. While certain elements of these gangs still remain there are no
serious issues now,” said the district secretary.
Sri Lanka
Army
Speaking
to The Nation spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Army Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya
said that while the Police have made several arrests in the recent past
currently the Army has no such information or reports of any such gangs
operating in the Northern Province. He attributed the sudden interest of the
matter to rehashing of old news by some media organizations.
Gangs or no gangs?
The
Police ensure the public there is no such criminal activity in the Northern
Province anymore with government officials and the Army reiterating this.
However the important question is what gave rise to such criminal gangs and
formulation of an underworld in a post-war setting. Is it, as one local
alleged, the lack of jobs in the Jaffna Peninsula? If the issue is inability to
secure jobs by the youth, then a long-term solution is needed to stamp out the
formation of such gangs in the first place. Unless jobs are not created there
is nothing to prevent youth going down the path of crimes in order to make
money. Are these gangs after easy money? Or are these youth compelled by
poverty? Are these gangs in fact now obsolete? Many questions remain and only
time will provide answers.
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