The Batticaloa party office of the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS) located near the Batticaloa Municipal Council came under attack by a group in the early hours of Sunday, 19 August 2012.

 According to police, the attackers had caused severe damage to the party office and had also attempted to set fire to the van belonging to the EROS leader R Prabhakaran using petrol bombs. The fire was brought under control by the neighbours.

Speaking on the attack, Prabaharan went on to say, “during the time of election campaign I faced various threats from the supporters of former chief minister. I have lodged various complaints at the police and election monitoring organizations however they fail to take action on this issue”.

Batticaloa Police sources said an investigation has been launched to locate an unidentified group suspected to be involved in the attack.

Police Spokesperson, SSP Ajith Rohana said the Batticaloa Police have provided police security by deploying three police personnel at the party office after the attack. Further investigations are being carried out and no arrests have been made so far. 

Several election monitoring organisations have requested of political parties as well as independent groups to focus their attention on the utilization of illegal fire arms during the upcoming provincial polls.

Executive Director of the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections or PAFFREL states that the all political parties should focus their attention on proscribing the utilization of illegal fire arms during the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, the Campaign for Free & Fair Election's (CAFFE) announced that it will make a decisive intervention on proscribing the utilization of illegal fire arms during the upcoming polls.

On the issue of illegal fire arms, the National Polls Observation Centre said that it will host discussion with the elections commissioner with concern to two groups which utilize illegal fire arms in the Batticaloa district.