Week's ultimatum:

Remove tints - IGP

IGP Mahinda Balasuriya yesterday gave a week's ultimatum to vehicle owners to remove tints on their shutters.

He said the vehicle owners have been given one week's time beginning from yesterday to remove tints on their vehicle shutters and those who fail to comply will be prosecuted.

He requested the public to be vigilant of an extortion ring in the country.

The IGP said two extortion gangs were involved in the abduction of a student in a leading school in Colombo and the businessman recently.

The extortionists have used heavily tinted vehicles for the abduction of the student and the businessman

They have demanded Rs 10 million from the student's parents initially.

However, they have reduced it to Rs. 2 million later. Police have found the student near a Cinema hall in Colombo, he added

The extortionists who demanded Rs. 12.5 million for the release of the businessman were apprehended in a Police operation in Nittambuwa., he said

The IGP said the Police Department will launch an operation throughout the Western Province to remove unauthorized structures and illegal encroachments from today on the instruction of the Defence Ministry.

The public are requested to inform about the unauthorized structures, illegal encroachments and filling of lands to the special police desk on 1933.

This special police desk which is operative from today will accept all such complaints which are to be investigated by the CID, he added.

This operation will be extended to other provinces as well.