Errant police officers:

IGP warns of stern action

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne said he will take stern action against the errant police personnel irrespective of their positions. The Police Department has taken action against 168 police personnel recently. If they are found guilty to the charges preferred against them, they will be removed from the Police Department,” the IGP said at a press conference held at the IGP’s chambers yesterday.

“The media has all the freedom to criticize the Police Department while protecting the specially trained Police personnel who assisted to combat crime and arrest organised gang leaders in the country.”

The Police Department’s prime duty is to protect these specially trained police personnel who had brought peace to the country after three decades, Wickremaratne said.

The IGP emphasised that the 80,000 Police Force cannot be blamed for the wrongdoing of one person in the Police Department. Police personnel should not be involved with any of the politicians while on duty, he said.

Specially trained police personnel are responsible for arresting many LTTE suspects and recovering a massive consignment of high explosives including 970 kilos of hard drugs, 20,750 hand grenades, 1663 C-4 high explosives, 1050 kilos of TNT explosives, 113 motar cells, 425 claymore mines, several micro pistols, 18,000 ammunitions, several suicide kits, several APM (jonny battas), several T 56, several T86, suicide boats (found in a thick jungle), sophisticated equipment and several communication equipment used by the LTTE.

Several detonators and 91 motars were also recovered by the special police team at Omanthai and Welioya police areas.

The IGP said public assistance to eradicate crime in the country is very important. Public could contact the IGP or area Senior Police personnel to convey any information about criminal activities in their areas.

“Police will take stern action against them,” he warned.

Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka, Police spokesman, said that they will take all action to wipeout underworld activities from the country on a direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The Police spokesman assured that underworld gang leaders will be wiped out from the country with the ongoing operations. Northern Range Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka and Crime Division DIG Anura Senanayake presented reports on the detection of an explosives laden van that came to Colombo from Mannar area recently.