Scary Situation
JUN 18 2018Targeting the Chief Prelate of Kiri Vehera Rajamaha Viharaya in Kataragama which is one of the holiest places of worship in the country highlights how far the crime rate has increased with criminals ridiculing law and order.
Escalation of serious criminal activities has forced the law enforcement officials to adopt stringent measures to strengthen the special operations to deal with the notorious elements.
Prominent figures of the present regime mention frequently that unlike in the previous regime people could move around freely without the fear of `white van’ abductions, kidnappings and various types of criminal activities.
According to a senior Police official, Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) and Organized Crime Division (OCD) have been activated extensively with the deployment of the Special Task Force (STF) to deal with serious crimes which are on the increase in recent months.
The new initiative will put into action all 63 camps of the Directorate of Special Operations islandwide to tackle the notorious elements which remain a challenge to law and order in the country.
It is very shocking to understand the country is in a terrorized atmosphere with the sword wielding gangsters in the North and the gun totting underworld elements in the South.
The reports from Jaffna Peninsula indicate sword attacks have become the order of the day and even the law enforcement officials remain helpless in bringing the situation under control.
The sword wielding gangsters of Jaffna Peninsula are active carrying out their attacks even in the broad day light in various places in the region. They go into houses and business establishments threatening the innocent civilians with their notorious activities.
In the meantime several shooting incidents had taken place in various parts in the South in recent weeks and the attack on the Chief Prelate of Kiri Vehera, Kataragama a few days ago has thrown a big challenge to the law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of the law abiding citizens of the country.
The special Police operations which have been launched already have led to the arrests of several underworld ring leaders and their accomplices.
A few days ago an accident involving State Minister Palitha Range Bandara’s son Yashoda and Puttalam Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Anjana Sandaruwan in Chilaw has pointed to how law and order has been ridiculed by those who come from a high profile political background.
At the time of the accident State Minister Bandara’s son Yashoda and Puttalam Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sandaruwan were under the influence of liquor and the vehicle they used belonged to the Irrigation Ministry.
Therefore, when the law enforcement officials have flexed their muscles to maintain law and order, the irresponsible behaviour of the son of a State Minister and a Local Government politician holding an important position has made us to think how successfully the law and order situation could be brought under control with the cooperation of those who have been elected by the people to be their credible representatives.
Giving Police officials a free hand without meddling in their task of maintaining law and order only will help to a great extent in curbing serious crimes in the country.
The day to day reports reaching the media institutions have highlighted the manner the drug dealers, murderers, high profile corrupt and fraudulent individuals have become a threat not only to the peaceful existence of the law abiding citizens but also to the healthy socio-economic development of the country.
Therefore, the tasks of the Directorate of Special Operations and the Organized Crime Division backed by the Police Special Task Force should be allowed to be independent under the directive of skilful and responsible officials to ensure every nook and corner of the country is freed from the outlaws.
