Military operation to nab thousands of army deserters in Lanka

PTI | Deccan Herald
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The Sri Lankan military has stepped up its operation to arrest thousands of army deserters, many of them responsible for the surge in crime in the country.

An operation is underway to arrest 60,000 deserters who have not surrendered to the authorities, Sri Lanka Army spokesperson Brigadier Nihal Happurachchi was quoted as saying by ColomboPage online newspaper earlier this week.

The number of desertion from the army swelled during the three-decade ethnic conflict between the military and the LTTE. Earlier, the army had announced grace periods to these deserters so that they could surrender to the authorities.

The Army said no more grace periods will be provided to the deserters.
According to Brigadier Hapuarachchi, 11,000 deserters have been arrested so far this year.
He said legal action will be initiated against the arrested deserters who will be discharged from the army.

Police records show that a number of military deserters have been linked to the surge in crime, the report said.

The LTTE waged a civil war for a separate state for the Tamils of Sri Lanka, alleging discrimination against the minority community at the hands of the majority Sinhalas.

The Lankan military crushed the rebels in May 2009 and ended the ethnic conflict that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people.

© PTI