Sri Lankan police arrested over 100 people following the clashes between the police and a mob in the northern town of Jaffna on Monday night.
A military official in Jaffna said Tuesday that the clash erupted after the people in the area, made up of predominantly Tamil minorities, had claimed they had seen a "grease devil" in the area. The "grease devil" is a name given by locals to men who go around with grease on their body abusing women.
Jaffna security forces commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said the mob had thrown stones at the police after claiming that the police was giving refuge to a suspect.
The police were unable to control the situation, which forced the army to intervene and disperse the violent mob, Hathurusinghe told Xinhua.
Several violent incidents had taken place around Sri Lanka over the past few weeks following alleged sight of so called grease devils.
The Sri Lankan police however rubbished the existence of " grease devils" and instead said it is simply the work of some miscreants.
A Tamil newspaper published in Jaffna said that locals had attacked military vehicles in the area on Monday night during the clash.
The Uthayan newspaper website also said that the Sri Lankan army had forced its way into civilian houses to arrest those involved in the clash.
Hathurusinghe said that those who were arrested will be produced in court on Tuesday.
Xinhua
A military official in Jaffna said Tuesday that the clash erupted after the people in the area, made up of predominantly Tamil minorities, had claimed they had seen a "grease devil" in the area. The "grease devil" is a name given by locals to men who go around with grease on their body abusing women.
Jaffna security forces commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said the mob had thrown stones at the police after claiming that the police was giving refuge to a suspect.
The police were unable to control the situation, which forced the army to intervene and disperse the violent mob, Hathurusinghe told Xinhua.
Several violent incidents had taken place around Sri Lanka over the past few weeks following alleged sight of so called grease devils.
The Sri Lankan police however rubbished the existence of " grease devils" and instead said it is simply the work of some miscreants.
A Tamil newspaper published in Jaffna said that locals had attacked military vehicles in the area on Monday night during the clash.
The Uthayan newspaper website also said that the Sri Lankan army had forced its way into civilian houses to arrest those involved in the clash.
Hathurusinghe said that those who were arrested will be produced in court on Tuesday.
Xinhua
