Senior cops should bear responsibility for curbing crimes in respective areas - Defence Secretary

Defence Secretary Major General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne says the senior police officers-in-charge of provinces should be ashamed of wearing their uniforms if large-scale illegal activities are taking place in their respective divisions.

“You need to curb illegal activities that are increasing at an alarming rate without heeding to forces that might influence you and also to protect the dignity of the uniform that you wear. No police officer, from Senior DIGs, DIGs to OICs in the area, can wash their hands of the accountability for the increase in crimes rate in their respective areas,” the Defence Secretary said addressing senior DIGs and DIGs representing all provinces of the Sri Lanka Police at a special meeting held at the Defence Ministry.
 
He has advised the police officials not to consider their profession as just another job as the lives of the country’s people are in their hands, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

“The responsibility of the armed forces is to protect people in events like major natural catastrophes like floods and landslides, terrorism or hostilities and also virus outbreaks like COVID-19. But you are the ones who recognize the pulses of the people. Hence, you shoulder a bigger responsibility in protecting people’s lives,” the Defence Secretary said adding that while many police officers are serving in a dignified manner, some are a disgrace to the entire police department.

The Defence Secretary said he had received letters from the public residing in various police divisions citing the inefficiency of some policemen, including top police officials in the areas, in curbing crimes and also their involvement with criminals in those areas.

“Sir, there is no point of lodging complaints about drug peddlers to the police as these drug dealers, who were informed by the police on our complaints, are threatening to destroy our families the next day,” the  Defence Secretary quoted from letters that he received from various police divisions and questioned the Senior DIGs and DIGs whether the police could gain any respect in such situations.

“If any of those top police officers, who have had hand in such crimes, are present here today, they should be ashamed of themselves. I have received many complaints that drug trafficking was carried out with the help of some police officers during the curfew and drugs were being distributed in motorcycles and three-wheelers and as well as by using young children with the blessings of those corrupt police cops. I have also received complaints about an OIC attached to a Northern Police Station, who had acquired a large sum of cash from a criminal, with the support of another high-ranking police officer, to allow him to run his illegal businesses, freely,” he revealed.

Despite the Defence Ministry, issuing a letter on April 5 this year had instructed Superintendents of Police (SP) to prepare reports on the underworld criminals and drug traffickers in the respective police divisions, they have failed to submit those reports to the Ministry, so far.

The Defence Secretary has instructed the Acting Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickremaratne to look into the matter.

“If it took two-and-a-half months to implement, how could we bring the perpetrators to book” the Defence Secretary queried.

He stressed that when directives were issued by the Defence Ministry or the Acting IGP, it should not be considered as directives issued by a corporation or any other government institution as it is a matter related to national security.

Defence Secretary said police officers were responsible for maintaining national security as they are the main contributors to create a fear-free environment for the people to live freely.

“I want to tell you the same thing that I told the prison officials. From today onwards, you have to perform your duties properly in a responsible manner. Let me know if any of you were not allowed to perform your duties. I have arranged this meeting today to request you to perform your duties to gain respect for the uniform that you wear and it is your responsibility not to leave room for any political force to harass people in your respective areas. The SSPs and ASPs have a responsibility to look into these,” he said adding that no police officer, who works for the sake of gaining personal benefits, earns respect when he is being called ‘a good boy’ by a politician.  

He also said the senior police officers should be held responsible if any form of crimes, including theft, murder or drug trafficking, were taking place in the areas coming under their purview.

The Defence Secretary said if there were 12 police stations under DIGs, all 12 OICs should be accountable for the crimes that took place in those areas.

“You can inform about officers who perform duties irresponsibly to me or the IGP but those who make complaints should have clean records,” he said, noting that tourists or families cannot enjoy their evenings at the Mount Lavinia and Panadura Beaches due to drug addicts.

The Defence Secretary also revealed about a failed attempt by a henchman of a notorious underworld criminal to fill a large swathe of marshy land in the vicinity of Colombo and was thwarted by the Police’s Special Task Force.

“When inquired, the Police officer-in-charge of that area said he was unaware of this illegal landfilling. You can justify a police officer saying that he couldn’t detect drugs hidden inside a flower basket or a pocket but how can he say that he was not aware of the filling of 4-5 acres of land,” the Defence Secretary questioned.

He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Election manifesto had spelt 10 main objectives and maintaining national security was its main priority and his main intention of appointing the Presidential Task Force was also to support to build a safe country, a disciplined, virtuous and legitimate society for all Sri Lankans.

Meanwhile, the Defence Secretary, who again quoted a telephone call that he received about a ransom of Rs. 5,000 from a 60-year-old female street vendor in Kaduwela, questioned as to how one could speak of national security when innocent street vendors aged 60 to 70 years were unable to sell green leaves without paying a ransom.