Criminals masquerading as demons
The word Grease Yaka (ghost) mentioned in both the Print and
Electronic Media has created fear in the minds of people in many parts
of the country although such a ghost or an apparition does not exist in
reality, according to police. True, several criminals masquerading as
Grease Yakas have been caught by the police since the uproar in
Kahawatte just a few weeks ago. The agitation erupted at Kahawatte
following the unsolved murders of seven elderly women in the area.
The public who became agitated due to inaction on the part of police
to apprehend the murderers. However to vent their anger people burnt
tyres on a highway causing obstructions to the flow of traffic. The
deployment of the army along with the Special Task Force (STF) commandos
ultimately quelled the mini riot. Meanwhile sleuths from the Criminal
Investigation Department and policemen from the Ratnapura division
arrested several men linked to the horrendous murders dispelling myths
of a Grease Yaka or an apparition roaming in the area. Police said that
it was all man-made creations of criminals and some mentally deranged
persons and sex perverts to infuse fear into the minds of the village
folk in order to commit crime. This brings to our memory the story of
the Hound of the Baskerville written by Sir Arthur Conon Doyle.
The word of a Grease Yaka surfaced again after a lapse of few weeks
following the sighting of several demonic looking persons in many parts
of the country. However with the arrest of several persons police found
them to be criminals masquerading as demons to commit crime.
 At a hastily arranged press conference at the Police Headquarters a
few days ago the Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K. Illangakone
explained to the media the myths surrounding the Grease Yaka as reported
in some newspapers. He then assigned the task to Senior DIG Sabaragamuwa
Range, Pujith Jayasundera explained to the media about the myths
surrounding the Grease Yaka.
He said the crimes were committed by disgruntled and mentally
deranged persons and sex perverts. He said following the Kahawatte
incident, the latest reports of a Grease Yaka were published in
newspapers.
A Grease Yaka was reported to be seen by people in Katugastota.
However police arrested a man masquerading as Grease Yaka on suspicion
and was placed in remand custody pending further inquiries.
The second incident was reported from Mahiyanagana area where two
women were attacked by a Grease Yaka. Police arrested four persons
following the incident. However one person linked to the incident was
identified while another man had 330 grams of Ganja (Cannabis sativa) in
his possession. The two suspects have been remanded. The third incident
was reported from Giranduru Kotte area where four persons were arrested.
Inquiries revealed that their intention was simply to frighten ordinary
village folk to derive satisfaction.
The suspects have been remanded. The fourth incident was reported
from Hasalaka where police arrested seven men from Ambagahapelesse
Mangalahinne.
They admitted to police that their intention was to poke fun at
residents by frightening them. The suspects have been remanded. Senior
DIG said the fifth incident was reported in the newspaper in the
Maha-Oya in the Ampara area.
However police found that no one had complained of such an incident
and was just a rumour that spread in the area. The sixth incident was
reported from the Kandeketiya area where a man had frightened women and
thereafter escaped into the jungle.
The seventh incident was reported from Bibile area where a man had
frightened a woman after consuming liquor. The suspect was later
arrested from the adjoining village and was remanded.
The eighth incident was reported from Alawatugoda where a mentally
deranged person had worn lingerie over his clothes and had frightened
women.
The ninth was reported from Siyambalanduwa in the Moneragala area
where a cultivator had frightened people by knocking on their doors. He
had 30 grams of Ganja in his possession.
The suspect was remanded by the police. The tenth incident was
reported from Damana Ampara where a mentally deranged person had
frightened women.
The eleventh incident was reported from Sendulwatte in the Nuwara
Eliya area when people travelling in a van was attacked by villagers
believing them to be demons.
The twelfth incident was reported from Polonnaruwa area where police
found that there was no Grease Yaka but was only a rumour.
The thirteenth incident was reported from the Maho area where a
beggar dressed in black clothes had frightened residents. The fourteenth
incident was reported from Nawalapitiya where a man loitering near a tea
factory was arrested.
But a rumour spread in the area that he was a Grease Yaka. The
fifteenth incident was reported from Nuwara Eliya where persons had
frightened people in the Ragala area to do illicit gemming in a river
closeby. The sixteenth incident was reported from Anuradhapura where an
army deserter employed as a bus conductor had frightened residents at
the Railway quarters.
Senior DIG Jayasundera refuted newspaper reports of Grease Yakas
being sighted at various parts of the country and said it was all made
up stories.
Inquiries are being made by police whether interested parties have
concocted such stories to dis credit the government.
He made a fervent appeal to the media to refrain from using the word
“Grease Yaka “ so as not to cause fear to the public.
The Media spokesman for the Defence Ministry Lakshman Hulugalle said
it was a serious matter for people to attack public property such as
police vehicles when they go to arrest perpetrators of crime.
The State will be compelled to take stern action against such
persons. He appealed to people to give their whole-hearted support to
police to apprehend criminals.
|
