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| Sunday, 02 March 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Crimes on wheels by Anton Nonis The trishaw which was once a popular mode of travel and cheaper and easier way to get around in traffic clogged streets has now acquired a new and notorious distinction as a vehicle of choice for criminals. Increasingly the trishaw is identified as the get-away vehicle in most crimes, ranging from robberies to murders, rape, mugging, assault and other crimes. Making the user wonder how safe the convenient mode of transport is. Police investigations reveal that trishaws were involved in a large percentage of crimes in the country. Records maintained in the Crime Division (CD) of Police Headquarters indicate there were 191 trishaw-related crimes in 2002 and 228 incidents in 2001. Realising that the trishaw related crimes could not be a coincidence police began scrutinising Log Books to review past crimes involving three wheelers. According to Assistant Superintendent Crimes, Anton Dassanayake there were six trishaw-related incidents reported from Nawalapitiya Nikaweratiya and Bibile, last month. Three of these had been robberies while the rest were sex related crimes had been where women were abducted in trishaws to lonely spots prior to being raped. In Talangama there had been three trishaw-related crimes reported to Talangama Police in January. The crimes included snatching of a gold chain from a pedestrian, house breaking and theft of Rs. 20,000 and transport of illicit liquor. Grandpass is a notorious area for crimes. The Grandpass Police reported six trishaw-related crimes in February, of which most were robberies and included the Rs 300,000 snatch while the money belonging to a shop, was been transported to the Bank. While in January there were nine trishaw-related crimes. Investigations have revealed that every month there had been various offences carried out in different parts of the country by using trishaws as their get-away mode. The Mount Lavania police also reported a case of a millionaire from Matara being abducted and held for ransom. Here too a trishaw was used for the abduction. Crime detection officials confirm that criminal acts were being increasingly committed with the help of trishaws. Although the reported cases might not be many, the actual figures might be much higher as many sexual abuse and abductions go unreported. In Ahangama and Katugastota trishaw drivers are often pushed out halfway through the journey and the crime committed. Deputy Inspector General (Crimes), Sirisena Herath told the `Sunday Observer' that instructions had been sent out to all police divisions throughout the country for strict vigilance to be maintained with regard to movement of trishaws. Deputy Inspector General (Crimes), Sirisena Hearth told the `Sunday Observer' instructions had been sent out to all police divisions to maintain a strict vigilance on trishaws. DIG Hearth said investigations had revealed that trishaws are also rapidly being used for drug trafficking purposes. Such instances are reported from areas of Grandpas, Nugegoda, Maharagama, Kohuwala, Peliyagoda and Mount Lavinia. He has deployed special police teams to curb the menace. |
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