Crime rate could be controlled through public, police participation

M.T.M. Hanafi

MALWANA:Crime is on the increase and can be completely eradicated or controlled only with the public and police participation. The media too has a vital role in this, said Asst. Supt. of police, Kelaniya Jayantha Liyanage.

Speaking as chief guest at the seminar on "crime and the motive of such crime" and friendly police public cooperation held at Lafir Hadjiar Auditorium of Al Mubarak National School in Malwana last Saturday, he said most criminals escaped from the law with public help.

"This is a matter of regret. This can be avoided if the public take a conscious attitude against unlawful elements and assist police to maintain law and order", the ASP said.

The seminar and get-together was organised by Biyagma police and industrialist and social worker Al Haj M.M.A. Ismail on the request of ASP, Kelaniya Jayantha Liyanage.

The ASP said the police have started a programme of maintaining harmonious relations with law abiding people. "People must be made to understand that the police are not their enemies", he said. The ASP added that IGP has instructed all police stations to organise conferences with the media every month and discuss matters on criminal activities and unlawful elements and make the public aware of such matters.

The ASP said there are 200,000 police officers in the Police Department out of which three fourth are attached to various units of the Department. Only one fourth are for public security. So there is a shortage of police officers almost in all police stations in the country. The government should pay special attention on the dearth of police personnel.

It is unfair on the part of public to misjudge the whole Police Department just because of the misbehaviour of few police officers, he said. The ASP noted that there are some elements who are keen on creating communal unrest.

Such action must be nipped in the bud. Hence it is essential for the public to be vigilant and inform the police as soon as possible. If they come across any such moves, he said.

The recent incident in Malwana created by some unlawful elements for their personal gains, would have changed into a communal unrest if the police hadn't interfered and acted consciously on correct time to calm down both communities, he said.

He said a committee to empower the public (Mahajanatha Balaganweema Kamituwa) will be organised in every gramaseva area to boost police-public relations to minimise criminal activities in the country.

Viharadipathis of Yabaraluwa Viharaya Al Mubarak collage principal Moulavi M.H.M. Lafir, acting OIC Biyagama Quintas Perera, OIC crime branch Priyantha, Biyagama pradeshiya sabha member Nimal Ranjith, Grama Niladharis of the area, social workers Al Haj M.M.A. Ismail, H.S. Piyaratne (JP) and A.R.M. Lafir were present.

"Devotional song on peace" written by Idhaya Arifdeen in all three languages, was also sung by a group of Al Mubarak school girls.