Special police unit to probe abductions and extortions

COLOMBO: Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed the Inspector General of Police to establish a special unit in the Police Department to investigate and take action regarding abductions and extortions, a media release from the President's Office, said yesterday.

Rajapaksa was chairing a discussion at Temple Trees yesterday to discuss problems faced by Tamils in Colombo and the suburbs.

Investigation of a complaint of threat to an organisation affiliated to the United Nations and another organisation, as revealed at the discussion will be among the priorities assigned to the Unit.

The Defence Secretary said the President was concerned about abductions and extortions and had instructed him to take due action to curb this within the next few days.

Community Development and Alleviation of Social Disparity Minister P. Chandrasekeran, Vocational and Technical Training Deputy Minister G. Radhakrishnan, Estate Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister Muthu Sivalingam, Health Deputy Minister Vadivel Suresh, Education Deputy Minister M. Sachithanandan, UNP MP T. Maheswaran, JVP MP Ramalingam Chandrasekeran and MPs Mano Ganeshan, M.S. Sellasamy and L. Jegatheeswaran participated in the discussion. Acting Presidential Secretary Gamini Senarath, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, IGP Chandra Fernando and DIGs Pujith Jayasundera Wijetilleke, K.B. Pathirana, Ilangakone and the CID Director also participated.

The Parliamentarians appreciated the President's decision to include foreign representatives in these investigations in addition to appointing a Commission. The Defence Secretary added that according to information there had been instances where certain elements had resorted to acts of abduction and extortion to bring disrepute to the Government.

Several Tamil businessmen from Sea Street who attended the discussion, praised the Government for establishing a special unit to investigate abductions and extortions and expressed their co-operation.