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Minister of Interior John Amaratunga has ordered the IGP to conduct a full investigation into three complaints of thuggery and intimidation allegedly involving UNP supporters.

One of these relates to the allegation on which PA members of the Ja-ela Pradeshiya Sabha had been forcibly evicted from the P/S meeting by an armed thugs allegedly supporters of the UNP.

According to Police, the mob numbering over 300 armed with pistols, swords and knives had stormed into the P/S building in Kandana and chased away the PA members. Robert Anthony, PA member, who suffered injuries was admitted to the Ragama Hospital.

This was the fourth occasion that the Ja-ela P/S meeting had been disrupted in similar fashion following the December 5 election, sources said.

The employees of the Pradeshiya Sabha too had run for cover, they added. According to these sources PA Parliamentarian Felix Perera and Acting Chairman Ja-ela P/Sabha Rohita Siriwardena had been threatened by the gang at the Kandana police station where the duo had gone to make a complaint.

In the other incident, a group of people allegedly supporters of a government politician in the Hambantota District had forcibly occupied a temple land after cutting down its trees. When the police arrived at the spot on Tissa Road in Tangalle the squatters had claimed that they had the authority of the MP to occupy the land.

In another incident a former UNP provincial councillor had allegedly stormed the Mulleriyawa police station and threatened the police against objecting to bail for a group of persons held in detention.

The group belonged to a party who had been engaged in a land dispute. When a policeman had gone to investigate the dispute, one of parties had assaulted the policeman which led to the arrest of the group.

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