An uneasy calm prevailed over Colombo Central yesterday as voters went to the polls for the Western Provincial Council elections. Many were prevented from casting their votes by revolver-toting gangs who were threatening, even assaulting, voters.
In fact, a fear psychosis had gripped certain parts of the Colombo Central electorate weeks before the elections, as “underworld” gangs went around intimidating candidates and voters. Consequently, several UNP and SLMC election offices had to be closed.
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| Despite a strong police presence, a sense of anxiety prevailed in certain polling areas. |
Yesterday jeeps with tinted glass windows were seen cruising around Maligawatte, along Jumma Masjid Road. The Sunday Times understands that the jeeps were filled with “underworld elements” who were allegedly involved in the abduction and assault of supporters of UPFA candidate, Minister A. H. M. Fowzie’s son Nauzer Fowzie.
Gang members armed with revolvers were seen mingling with the crowd outside the two polling booths on Jumma Masjid Road and asking people to vote for UPFA candidate Ajmal Mawjood.
It was also reported that former YMMA president Zainudeen Ahmed and a Fowzie supporter were abducted at gunpoint, despite a strong police presence in the Jumma Masjid Road area, and later assaulted.
Meanwhile, Minister Fowzie had rushed to Hulftsdorp and Maligawatte on hearing that supporters for his son, UPFA candidate Nauzer Fowzie, had been threatened and assaulted by members of the “Mawjood gang”.
Shortly after, Army and Navy personnel were deployed to beef up security on Jumma Masjid Road. To the puzzlement of residents, the security was withdrawn later, and then restored again in the late afternoon.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Minister Fowzie confirmed that gangs were very visible in Colombo Central yesterday. “The elections went quite smoothly, except for the presence of underworld elements set on causing trouble,” he said. “Two of my supporters were assaulted by Mawjood’s gang.”
Asked if he would take the matter to a high level, Minister Fowzie said, “I don’t plan on dragging this issue.”
Yesterday, UPFA offices set up for the Nauzer Fowzie campaign and two UNP offices working on the Firoze Hajiar campaign put up their shutters. Almost all SLMC campaign offices were shut down days before the elections.
The Sunday Times learns that about two weeks before the polls an armed gang had accosted Minister Fowzie, who was visiting his brother in Maligawatte, accompanied by a security team of 13 Ministerial Security Division personnel.
The gunmen had pointed four revolvers at the minister’s brother and warned Minister Fowzie that if he ever entered Jumma Masjid Road again it would be “the end” for his brother. |
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