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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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Security |  |
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Anti-vice Striking Force back in action by Jayampathy Jayasinghe It was indeed a wise move by Public Security and Law and Order Ministry and the Police Department to re-establish the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) at Walana, Panadura which was popularly known as the Walana Squad responsible for waging a war on illicit hooch dens spread across the country. It was reported that the decision to scrap the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) in 2002, was a political move rather than a departmental one which took place during the previous regime. Only a few offcers would have been aware of the facts that led to the disbandment of the CAVSF. But it is a known fact that the CAVSF had raided several illicit hooch dens in the Western Province and elsewhere to the consternation of several politicians. Be that as it may, nobody knows for sure the vaid reason for terminating such a unit, whether powerful Kassipu Vendors who have tremendous influence over politicians were behind the move. The then Inspector General of Police A.E. Anandarajah and several Senior DIGs however were not in favour of decentralising the Central Anti Vice Striking Force because of the remarkable good work done by them. The CAVSF by then had become a potent force which struck terror in the minds of illicit hooch dealers. No sooner the unit was disbanded, its officers were transferred overnight to other police stations. The decision to terminate the CAVSF came somewhere in 2002. The CAVSF was to be replaced by Divisional Vice Squads to be set up in each province. However the move ultimately led to the termination of CAVSF and setting up of Divisional Vice Squads. The Divisional Vice Squads did not prove to be that effective as one expected which led to a surge in vice and serious crimes in the country. It was at this stage that President Chandrika Banadaranike Kumaratunga instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Law and Order, Tilak Ranaviraja and the IGP Indra De Silva to revive the Central Anti Vice Striking Force to combat rising tide of serious crime. Last week the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) was set up at Walana, Panadura. Most officers who were earlier attached to the unit have been brought back accoring to OIC, Inspetor Vijitha Perera. The newly set up unit functions directly under IGP Indra De Silva and DIG Crimes and Intelligence, Jayantha Wickremaratne. In fact the Central Anti Striking Force was set up in 1996 by the then IGP W.B. Rajaguru with authority to conduct raids in any part of the country. The move was to stamp out corruption in the police department. It is a known fact that some corrupt police officials turn a blind to the nefarious activities of illicit hooch manufacturers in their respective areas. The Central Anti Vice Striking Force then too functioned directly under the IGP. It was then headed by Senior Superintend of Police D.A. Fonseka who carried out a relentless campaign to rid illicitly manufactured liquor and dangerous drugs like Cannabis Sativa (Ganja) and other forms of vices like prostitution. Constant raids carried out by them in the Western Province often pushed illicit liquor manufacturers into brink of bankruptcy as heavy fines were imposed by Courts. According to ASP B.R. Ranaweera, the CAVSF had carried out nearly 14,000 raids and channelled Rs. 150 million to State coffers by way of fines imposed by Courts. Numerous raids were conducted by them in all parts of the country. Three years ago they raided an illegal armoury at Uda-Walawa and found several T-56 rifles, pistols and hand grenades used for robberies. An illicit distillery plant at Kandana, Ja-ela area too was raided by them and found 1,000 barrels of Unlawfully Manufactured Liquor (UML) bound to Colombo. The recently set up CAVSF acting on a tip off carried out a sweeping raid on an illicit distillation plant at Waikal Wennapuwa last Tuesday and seized 680 barrels each containing 45 gallons of Unlawfully Manufactured Liquor (UML) and 77 cans of Unlawfully Distilled Sprits (UDS) containing 45 bottles each and distillation equipment. Of the four suspects arrested following the raid two pleaded guilty before the Marawila Magistrate and fined Rs. 90,000 and 75,000. The other two suspects pleaded not guilty and the case has been fixed for trail. |
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