Colombo (LNW): Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday (15) directed the senior police officers in Jaffna to promptly detain a group believed to be extracting money from farmers in the Jaffna district.
During the Special Agriculture Committee meeting at the Jaffna District Secretariat, farmers expressed their concerns to the Minister, claiming that the police had not intervened with the extortion group.
A well-organised group demands money daily when they bring their produce to the Jaffna market, the farmers grieved.
They indicated that this extortion racket has been ongoing for quite some time, notably in Jaffna, Kodikammam and Sinnaveli markets.
In response, the police informed the Minister that they had not previously received any formal complaints regarding this group.
Given this revelation at the agriculture committee meeting, the Minister directed the police to deploy intelligence operatives and take swift action to apprehend the alleged extortionists.
The Northern Province Governor, PSM Charles, was also present during these discussions.
