Mob takes over fuel distribution in Madampe IOC shed, sporadic clashes reported

A mob has taken control over fuel distribution in a filling station in Madampe after the Police and armed forces failed to control the crowds today.

Residents said that initially, the Police had withdrawn from controlling crowds, followed by the Army and the Navy on two consecutive days paving the way for a gang of 50 persons to decide on who should receive fuel. Persons waiting for long hours and those who had received tokens had been disregarded in the process.

The incident was one among sporadic clashes at fuel stations in several parts of the country where fuel distribution was available in limited supplies. In one of the incidents reported from a fuel station in Yakgahapitiya, Kurunegala an army officer who intervened was seen kicking a youth who had called over to receive fuel.

Army Spokesman Brig Nilantha Premaratna, told Timesonline that an inquiry has been launched into the incident. The video of the incident had gone viral of the army officer kicking the youth, but the Army spokesman said that there was much into the video on how the incident brokeout and the army intervened.

However, the Officer’s behaviour has been widely condemned. In other clashes, the persons in the queues were seen entering into arguments with the Navy, Air Force and police personnel. Adding to the confusion, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said that the token system was no longer effective, but in some of the fuel stations the system was still in place. Pix and Story by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe