Army soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint near the Prime Minister’s official residence after the government imposed a three-day curfew following clashes between pro and anti-government demonstrators, amid the country’s economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 10, 2022. (Reuters)
Shoot-on-sight orders issued to quell Sri Lanka riots
Sri Lanka’s defense ministry on Tuesday ordered troops to shoot on sight people involved in looting or damaging property, a day after mobs targeted the homes of ruling-party politicians.
“Security forces have been ordered to shoot on sight anyone looting public property or causing harm to life,” the ministry said.
The order came as the government deployed tens of thousands of army, navy and air force personnel to patrol tense streets of the capital Colombo and elsewhere after a day of violence.
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Police said Tuesday eight people, including two policemen, were killed and 65 homes damaged during violence overnight. Forty-one of the homes were burned.
Official figures showed that 88 cars and busses were destroyed along with hundreds of motorcycles.
Sri Lanka is under a state of emergency since Friday giving sweeping powers to the military to arrest and detain suspects.
The government also declared a two-day curfew after pro-government activists on Monday smashed a peaceful month-long protest in the capital demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The main hospital in the capital said 219 people were wounded in Monday’s attacks and admitted for treatment. Another six people were wounded in violence elsewhere.
On Tuesday afternoon, the top police officer in Colombo was assaulted and his vehicle set ablaze by an angry mob which accused him of failing to prevent an attack against peaceful protesters Monday.
Read more:
UN condemns escalating violence in Sri Lanka
Outgoing Sri Lankan PM evacuated by troops
Sri Lanka ruling-party MP kills protester, takes own life: Police
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