Grade 8 student first threatened, and then knocked down for exposing drug dealers in Kilinochchi

Following the incident of a grade 8 student in Kilinochchi being threatened by drug dealers for daring to expose them during a drug prevention programme conducted by the police, several trade unions gathered in front of the Police station urging them to take action against crimes in the area.

The trade unions included the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), civil society unions, citizens' committees of the Kilinochchi district, Iranamadu Farmers' Association and the private tuition teachers' union.

CTU, Kilinochchi, Secretary, T. Sivaruban said that there is a fear psychosis among the public of a backlash when they turn informants.

He said that, in the recent past several incidents of crime had been reported but no action had been taken by police to apprehend the perpetrators.

In one instant, a sports meet that was to be held at the Konavil Madya Maha Vidyalayam on January 29 was postponed when a gang entered the school premises and threatened the teachers in abusive language.

In another incident an attempted abduction of a teacher on the Poonkeri – Mannar main road by a man on a motorbike was foiled by passersby. This happened in between 7 and 7.30 a.m. when she was on her way to school.

Last week, an eighth grader of Konavil Maha Vidyalayam was accosted by three women and threatened for daring to expose sellers of kasippu and ganja, police said.

The incidents of threats and abuse have increased after President Maithripala Sirisena’s programme on drug prevention and eradication was taken to schools. Last week's incident in Kilinochchi took place after an awareness programme was conduct- ed by the Kilinochchi police in schools in the Mullaitivu district. Meanwhile, in another incident on Thursday involving the same schoolboy, three men on a motorbike had attempted to knock him down while he was riding his bicycle. He was admitted to the Kilinochchi Hospital. with injuries to his left leg. Police who are investigating the accident say the boy's identity had been revealed by the children of drug peddlers, studying in the same school.

Police also arrested the three women who had threatened the student. They have been remanded until February 8.