Aluthgama clash was due to SIS’s misleading of police!
- Monday, 23 June 2014
The main reason for the communal clash that took place in Aluthgama on June 15 is the State Intelligence Service (SIS) not having provided correct information to the police officials involved in the matter, say sources at the police headquarters.
That was due to the failure of Defence Ministry consultant, retired Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendawitharana of the military intelligence and SIS chief DIG Chandra Nimal Wagista to channel the correct information to the Defence Council in consultation with the government, Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya, Sinhala Ravaya and other Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups.
The SIS report mentions that following the attack said to have been staged on a monk by the name Samitha by a group of Muslims youths at Aluthgama town on Poson Poya Day, a meeting was to be organised in the town on the morning of June 15 to receive him after being discharged from hospital and to take him in procession via Darga Town to his temple.
On the way, a clash could take place near the mosque, and the SIS chief in his report has advised that the law enforcement authorties be deployed to contain the situation.
Accordingly, senior DIG Anura Senanayake has taken over the operation on the morning of June 15 and sent 400 policemen and 500 STF commandos to Kalutara. DIG Senanayake began coordinating the operation from Aluthgama police station with assistance from SSP in charge of Colombo division Palitha Siriwardena. These two senior police officers were also responsible for the functioning of the Aluthgama police station too, as it did not have an OIC due to a dispute over the appointment of ASPs.
In the meantime, convener of Ravana Balaya, Akmeemana Dayaratana Thera has met with DIG V. Indran, who was in charge of Kalutara division, and prewarned him, “Mister. Today is our day. We are in charge of the duties today. You do not get involved in any matter. We will take care of everything. But, do not come to obstruct us.” Immediately, the DIG has informed the IGP of this warning, and was told by his chief that the Security Council has empowered senior DIG Senanayake and he will take necessary action to contain the situation.
DIG Senanayake has tasked DIG Sumith Edirisinghe and SSP Premalal Ranagala with ensuring the security at the Aluthgama meeting, providing them with 100 policemen and 100 STF commandos.
Also, 100 policemen and STF commandos each led by the SSPs of Kalutara and Kelaniya were sent to protect the mosque at Darga Town. In addition, 100 policemen and STF commandos each were stationed alongside the road which the procession was to take.
By that time, the two SSPs had informed DIG Senanayake that more than 2,000 Muslims had gathered at the mosque at Darga Town. Guessing that if the procession goes ahead as planned, a serious situation could arise, he has telephoned western province governor Alavi Moulana, minister Fowzie, deputy minister Faizer Mustafa and legal adviser to the defence secretary, President’s Counsel Ali Sabri, and pleaded with them to get the gathering at the mosque dispersed.
DIG Edirisinghe and SSP Ranagala, who were in charge of security at the meeting, had got into the platform along with a representative of Kapila Hendawitharana and requested Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera to suspend the procession and to ask the gathering to disperse peacefully. Rejecting the request point blank, the Thera said he would guarantee that no violent incident would take place. Both police officers had got into the vehicle of the Thera along with him.
In no time, the procession turned into a rally and the police provided protection to the participants who marched on shouting patriotic slogans. As the procession was passing the mosque, a club had been thrown at them from the direction of the mosque. Immediately, Akmeenama Dayaratana Thera of Rawana Balaya, using a loudspeaker, shouted, “A monk has been cut inside the mosque. Do not wait any longer.” The enraged patriotic participants of the procession had stormed the mosque and attacked its occupants with swords, clubs and daggers and set fire to the premises.
Unable to bring the situation under control, DIG Edirisinghe, SSP Ranagala and Gnanasara Thera had avoided the place and went on. Saying that patriotism is nobler than mother’s milk, Gnanasara Thera had left for Colombo. Police had fired tear gas to disperse the troublemakers. But, they had been provided with only 300 teargas canisters, which lasted less than half an hour. The water cannons brought to contain the gathering had to be used to extinguish the spreading blaze. Those machines, too, were exhausted in a very short period.
In the meantime, organized armed gangs began looting shops at Beruwela and Aluthgama areas and setting fire to them. Several businessmen who had opposed them, died in their hands. Anyhow, DIG in charge of the area V. Indran and his policemen arrested 13 armed men, who had been looting shops and setting fire to them. The arrested persons had been taken to Aluthgama police station. At midnight, SIS chief Chandra Nimal Wagista and defence ministry advisor Kapila Hendawitharana had ordered that the arrested men be freed immediately. Strongly opposing them, DIG Indran has responded that they would not be released under any circumstance, and that they would be produced before courts on the following day.
On Monday, a meeting had been chaired by the prime minister in Kalutara to discuss resolving communal clashes, and also participating were ministers of the area Kumara Welgama, Rohitha Abeygunawardena as well as Basil Rajapaksa. Storming the event, BBS secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara has said that he would launch a suicide mission if the 13 arested thugs were not freed. A badly frightened Basil Rajapaksa had told senior DIG (administration) Gamini Nawaratne, who was at the meeting, to go to Aluthgama police station and get them freed.
As per the minister’s order, senior DIG Nawaratne had gone to the Aluthgama police station and told DID Indran to free them because of the order from the higher up. Strongly objecting to the order, DIG Indran has stressed, “Sir, if these men are released. I will file a human rights petition in the Supreme Court against you.” Losing his temper due to the reply, DIG Nawaratne had used his powers and released the 13 men. In addition, he has recommended to the IGP that a disciplinary inquiry be held against DIG Indran.
Accordingly, the IGP has instructed that Aluthgama and Beruwela police stations be released from the control of Kalutara DIG Indran. DIG (traffic and road safety) Amarasiri Senaratne has been appointed to supervise these two police stations.
