Batticaloa Bank heist: 'we know the political force behind ; we will not cringe' –Commanding chief of East warns

(Lanka-e-News, 02.July.2011, 2.45PM) Commanding chief of the East Major General Boniface Perera at a special media briefing held yesterday at Deavar Hall, Batticaloa referring to yesterday’s Bank heist at Batticaloa said , this robbery is not only a threat to the security not only of Batticaloa , but of the entire Island.

‘After one and half years , looting , killing and crimes have shot up in Batticaloa. We know who are behind these crimes. We have received accurate details of the politicos who are responsible. We know illegal weapons and arms are with whom. These weapons should immediately be surrendered .If not , we will not hesitate to go there are and seize them. When these individuals were told to hand over their arms , they kept back 40 weapons and handed over ten of the fifty in their possession. Nobody except the Govt. security divisions can possess arms’ These were the statements made by the Commanding chief two years after the war ended.
Speaking further , Boniface Perera added , there is a political force behind these crimes. No matter what rank or position they hold, the arms illegally with them should be surrendered . Otherwise he would take action . He warned that measures will have to be taken again to introduce barriers and conduct search operations.
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Bank heist in broad daylight at Batticaloa: The marauders had come in a white Van armed with T-56

Saturday 2 of July 2011(Lanka-e-News, 02.July.2011, 4.45AM) A massive Bank robbery took place in Batticaloa in broad daylight at about 3.30 p m on 30th June

Five masked robbers had stormed into a State bank situated at Nimlaitheevu, Putur, Batticaloa. After locking up those in the bank in a room , they have taken the cash and jewelry which were in the Bank , and have fled, police spokesman from the Batticaloa police said ,when speaking to Lanka e news.

According to the police these criminals have been armed with T 56 rifles and had come in a white Van (notorious vehicle used for several earlier crimes with the opposition accusing the Govt. of having a hand because most abductions and disappearances of persons were carried out using a white Van ). At the time the heist was committed there had been only three staff members in the Bank who were all females.
The police spokesman also said , it is impossible to assess right now how much of cash and jewelry had been stolen.
Residents say , looting and robberies in Batticaloa had shot up now much more than those during the period of the LTTE.