Sri Lankan Military Intelligence officers arrested over Jaffna store robbery

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Sri Lankan military intelligence officers have been arrested in connection with a robbery in Jaffna.

A total of six individuals, including two members of the Military Intelligence Division, were detained as suspects, after allegedly posing as Income Tax Inspectors to rob a jewelry store.

The incident took place on January 16th, when a group of individuals entered a store in Jaffna city, claiming to be Income Tax Inspectors. They interrogated the store owner and eventually made off with Rs. 30 lakhs. The suspects took measures to disable surveillance cameras and instructed the store employees to turn off their phones during the robbery.

Following a complaint filed by the jewelry store owner, Sri Lankan police in Jaffna launched an investigation. A suspect from Chunnakam, Jaffna, believed to be the main planner, was arrested. The investigation revealed that the suspect had informed the other suspects about the store's location and details of the owner.

Further investigations led to the arrest of three individuals in Kandy, including the driver involved in the incident. Additionally, two more suspects were apprehended in Colombo. Among the six arrested were an army soldier from the Military Intelligence Unit at the Kilinochchi Army Camp, two military investigators, and a political activist from the South. The stolen money, totaling Rs. 30 lakhs, was reportedly divided equally among the suspects.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of increasing criminal activities in Jaffna, including thefts, robberies, and gang violence. The involvement of military personnel in such crimes has raised serious concerns about the role of the armed forces in perpetuating a climate of fear and impunity in the region.

Historically, there have been numerous allegations of military complicity in crime in North-East. The presence of armed forces in civilian areas remains a contentious issue, with ongoing calls for accountability and justice. 

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