‘Army to assist Police in handling underworld’

Sandasen Marasinghe

Police have been instructed to obtain the support of the Army to arrest underworld figures, said Director General of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalla yesterday.

Lakshman Hulugalla

He said authorities had discussed at several meetings the matter of controlling the menace of unauthorized weapons, thuggery and the underworld.

The Army has also been instructed to extend its fullest support to the Police when requested to control anti-social elements and activities.

Hulugalla further said the Army has not been instructed to take action against underworld figures or thugs.

He added that the government has already lifted the Emergency regulations. “No piece of legislation has been enforced to make the Army take action against underworld figures or thugs by themselves and this a duty which comes under the ambit of the Police,” he added.

When contacted, Military Spokesperson Brigadier Nishantha Hapuarachchi said they have been instructed to support the Police whenever they need the support of the Army. But no communique has been delivered to them by the authorities to take actions on their own,he said.