Page 52 - 15MAY2019E

Killing in the name of God

A string of eight devastating blasts — including suicide attacks that struck churches and luxury hotels
frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing 253 people — shatters a decade of peace
in the island nation since the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE, reports tehelka bureau

pril 28 was the first Sunday the government, adaderana.lk reported. Meanwhile, two suspects were
anyone could remember Until April 28, a total of 106 suspects, arrested in Damgedara area in Galle dur-
without a mass at St Sebas- including a Tamil medium teacher and ing a search conducted on information
tian’s. A week earlier, nine a school principal, were arrested in Sri received of a school managed by the NTJ.
A suicide bombers had carried Lanka in connection with the Easter Sun- One of the suspects is the principal of the
out a series of devastating blasts that tore day blasts. The Criminal Investigations school and the other is a doctor who has
through three churches and three luxury Department (CID) is carrying out the served as an instructor. The Galle police
hotels on the Easter Sunday, killing 253 interrogation of the 106 suspects, Colom- are conducting further investigations.
people. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Sri bo Page reported.
Lanka’s most senior Catholic, meanwhile The arrested people include a India’s intelligence
had ordered the country’s churches not 40-year-old Tamil medium school teach- Indian authorities, on their part, had
to hold services until police could be sure er who was found in possession of 50 SIM shared “actionable” intelligence with
they would not be attacked. cards and other incriminating items, the Sri Lanka before the serial blasts rocked
The ISIS claimed the attacks, but the report said. He was held following a joint the neighbouring country. “Desired and
government has blamed local Islamist operation conducted by the Kalpitiya actionable inputs were shared with
extremist group NTJ for the attacks. Sri Police and the Navy. the authorities in Sri Lanka prior to the
Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena In a special joint operation conduct- blasts. But unfortunately, they (plotters)
has banned two Islamist groups — the ed by the Army and police in Vavuniya succeeded,” said India’s Home Minister
National Thowheed Jamath and the Jam- town, 10 suspects were arrested. On a tip- Rajnath Singh.
miyathul Millathu Ibrahim — six days off, main roads were blocked and search Asked if Sri Lanka failed to act on
after serial blasts in the island country. operations carried out for nearly three those inputs, he said it is not a question of
All activities of these organisations will hours. Security has also been stepped-up blaming that country’s government for
be stopped and their property seized by in the area. it. According to officials, intelligence in-

Tehelka / 15 may 2019 52 www.Tehelka.com