Police arrest six extortionists for torching car of businessman at Selvapuram

The Mullaitivu police, on Wednesday, night arrested six persons for destroying a businessman’s car at Selvapuram. The gang burnt the vehicle on 28 June as the businessmen had refused to pay protection money.

The businessman runs a foreign employment company.

The police analysed the CCTV footage of the businessman’s house and arrested six persons from Nawali and Pudur, Jaffna. Two motorcycles used in the attack too were taken into custody. The suspects would be produced before the Mullaitivu Magistrate, police said.

STF personnel have been deployed in some parts of the North to apprehend armed groups terrorising residents during recent weeks.

DIG Jaffna, Priyantha Liyanage said that around eight people had been injured due to attacks by gangs who arrived on motorcycles. A number of properties and vehicles had been attacked, he added.

During an attack in Kopai on Wednesday, goons severed the arm of an individual. However, doctors of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital successfully reattached the hand.

“There is an increase in violent crime in the North in the past few weeks. Police are studying CCTV footage to identify the assailants and a number of police teams had been deployed to arrest them,” the DIG said.