No one should fear to approach police - SP

S. Duraisamy, Maskeliya Group Corr.

MASKELIYA: The country needed peace and unity among people of all communities. The people have their democratic rights to get the police to attend to their needs without any fear, said Hatton SP, P.W.M.R.M.B. Angunawela.

The SP was speaking at the General Meeting of Peace Committees of Maskeliya, Upcot, Luccombe, Delhouse and Kuda Maskeliya at PMD Hall, Maskeliya recently.

The late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike has said it was a noble service of man to serve man and it is a great gift. So, the police and the Peace Committees should help the people of the areas. The people should not be afraid of the police.

They have come to serve the masses. They are the guardians of Law and Order of the country, he said.

There were many complaints about the usage of kasippu, manufacture of illicit arrack in the areas and if those were brought to the notice of the Police those could be prevented, the SP said. "Now, many complaints have been received about child abuse, rape and sexual harassment in estates. The Police were advised to take strict action on those complaints. All have to respect each other," he said.

The Police would look in to all complaints from the public. The Peace committees have their functions separately to deal with matters and find solution. No one should fear to approach the Senior Police Officers to solve their problems. The gate is open, he said.

Assistant Superintendent of Police for Hatton Division W.M. Kumarasinghe said Maskeliya has turned to be a peaceful area in the Hatton Division.

Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims live together and the unity prevails. The Hatton Police Division has got a very few police officers to deal with the public in their mother-tongue and have a few Tamil Police officers in service.

As far as the child abuse, rape and other related matters are concerned the police had taken steps to prevent them.

The parents of estate children must take special care in looking after their young ones. We had many rape cases and child abuses on estates. The Police expect the public to identify such misdoers and give information to the police about them, as they are ready to act on such complaints.

Officer-in-Charge of Police Station, Maskeliya, K.S. Pathirana presided over the meeting and welcomed the Chief Police Officers and the public.

At this meeting Principal, Gouravilla TV, Upcot, Anthony Raj, Sunil Chandrasiri, a trader, President of Traders' Association S. Wijekumar, S. Raman Tr. and A.E. Fernando Tr. also spoke.