The order came in as the government deployed thousands of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel to patrol the tense streets of the capital city of Colombo and elsewhere after a day of violence.
New Delhi: The defence ministry in Sri Lanka on Tuesday ordered its forces to shoot-on-sight people involved in damaging properties or looting amid heightened protests by the citizens amid the worst-ever economic crisis. This comes in the backdrop of the second Emergency that was clamped a few days ago, however, later, the public outcry grew and turned worse each day.
The ministry said, “Security forces have been ordered to shoot on sight anyone looting public property or causing harm to life.”
On Monday, hours after the resignation of Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha, reports of massive protests in the form of violence and clashes were reported from various parts of the country. The anti-government protests witnessed burning of houses of the former Prime Minister, ministers and several others. Following the protests, a curfew was imposed in the country while Rajapaksa and his family were reportedly flown in a helicopter to the naval base.
The order came in as the government deployed thousands of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel to patrol the tense streets of the capital city of Colombo and elsewhere after a day of violence. According to the police, eight persons (including two policemen) were killed in the clashes.
Under Emergency, the military has the powers to arrest and detain any person even without a warrant.
Earlier, the Emergency was enforced on April 1 amid heightened protests mainly in the capital city of Colombo and other parts of the country. On March 31, thousands of people had come down on the streets of the capital city. The protesters had staged a massive protest outside the house of Rajapaksa, waved posters and raised slogans, said sources. Reports of scuffles between protesters and the police had also come in even as the law enforcement agencies had tried to pacify the angry protesters.
