News
Police on the blind side of the campaign trail
Police investigating the attack on the election campaign rally of Common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena at Pelmadulla on Friday evening, were yet to make any breakthrough or arrests, although a regional politician’s goons were suspected to be behind the incident.
At least 20 persons including several women were injured when unidentified persons hurled rocks and stones at the packed meeting, shortly after Mr Sirisena began to address the crowd.
The injured were later treated at the local hospital and many of them released after receiving ‘first aid’ treatment.
The moment when party members and bodyguards carried Maithripala Sirisena out of the stage. Pic by Ajithlal Shanthaudaya
The incident triggered a tense situation in the area after participants at the meeting began a hunt for the attackers, which led to a mini stampede and the limited police personnel present were hard pressed to control the crowd.
Mr Sirisena was immediately whisked out of the venue by his bodyguards, while the crowd hurriedly dispersed from the area.
The attack at Pelmadulla was the most serious pre-election incident where the Opposition has been targeted.
“State thuggery and power could never oppress the true feeling and requirements of the masses and this will be realized after Thursday (January, 8, 2015).
“It will take more than stones to stop the victory march of the common Opposition, and a jittery government is well aware of this, and therefore, has opted to intimidation tactics,” Mr Sirisena declared to the media shortly after the incident.
Independent election monitors have alleged that the entire election campaign, since nominations were handed over on December 8 last year, has been marred by incidents from violence to intimidation and the flouting of polls regulations, mainly by the government side.
The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), an independent polls monitoring group has compiled some 1079 such incidents reported since December 8, that includes at least some 21 cases where firearms were used.
In addition, at least a dozen persons have been injured, some with life-threatening injuries.A majority of the victims were supporters of and activists from the Opposition, CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said.