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| Sunday, 9 January 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The battle restarts Crime Sunday by Jaympathy Jayasinghe The Central Anti Vice Striking Unit at Panadura which bounced back into action recently has once again declared a war on kassippu dealers and brothel keepers in the country.
Popularly known as the Walana squad among ordinary folk, the Unit struck terror in the minds of illicit hooch manufacturers and brothel keepers who ran their businesses with the help of politicians and the local policemen who often turned a blind eye into their nefarious activities. However the unit bounced back when the present government restored it to his former status last September owing to the alarming crime that posed a serious threat and a challenge to the nation. Within a short span of three months (from 20th September to 31 December) the Central Anti-Striking Unit had detected 1152 cases of illicit liquor, narcotics and exclusive brothels run for wealthy businessmen in cities. The fines imposed by courts in respect of these offences after conviction amounted to a staggering Rs. 10,032,350 which had been credited to state coffers. The unit as before functions directly under the IGP Chandra Fernando. Senior Supdt. of Police D.A. Fonseka is overall in charge of the unit and assisted By ASPs Jayantha Perera, D.R. Ranaweera and Inspector Vijitha Perera. Within the last couple of months the Central Anti Vice Striking Unit raided a number of luxury brothels that had been functioning for quite some time in Kollupitiya, Maharagama and Pugoda areas. These brothels had catered exclusively for expatriates as well as for wealthy businessmen who often frequented them. The brothel at Kollupitiya was raided and four foreign girls found there were taken in for questioning. So was the Maharagama and Pugoda brothels where sixteen girls were taken in for questioning. Cases instituted against them are still pending before the respective courts. Sources say that brothels have become a top money spinner these days often run by underworld members. On a tip off Soon after the Central Anti Vice Striking Unit was mobilised it raided a large scale Illicit hooch manufacturing joint at Ja-ela and detected 750 barrels containing of unlawfully manufactured liquor (UML) commonly known as Goda. The barrels were stacked up close to Gin-Oya in a marshy land. Police also found 2500 bottles of Unlawfully Distilled Spirits (UDS) known as Kassippu. Four employees present at the site were taken into custody following the detection. Police said the stuff manufactured here is distributed in suburbs of Colombo and elsewhere through a retail network. This joint had been raided previously by the police. Last month the Central Anti Vice Striking Unit raided an illicit hooch joint at Dandugan-Oya, Seeduwa and detected 350 barrels containing Goda in a shrub jungle. They also found 1500 bottles of kassippu at the place. Three persons were arrested in this connection. Another 150 barrels of Goda were found buried in a marshy land in Muthurajawela along with 1000 bottles of Kassippu. Two suspects were arrested in this connection. Two persons were arrested at Wennappuwa following the detection of 2060 bottles of Kassippu in a shrub jungle. On a tip off, the Central Anti Vice Striking Unit raided a house at Induruwa, Kosgoda two months ago and recovered a T-56 weapon with four magazines loaded with ammunition, a .22 air rifle, and an assortment of S.G. Cartridges and .99 ammunition numbering to 110. The suspect who befriended a foreign national was arrested in this connection. It was learnt that he had obtained some of the weapons from the foreigner. Meanwhile the unit has received several complaints regarding traders in Galewela and Dambulla areas selling an aphrodisiac under a brand name "Muthra-Sanjeevani" a mixture of kassippu. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The Unit which had a jurisdiction to raid any illicit liquor
manufacturing place or a brothel in any part of the country was disbanded
almost four years ago by the Police Department. The reasons attributed for
its closure has not been fully justified in the light of raids carried out
by the unit, fanning across the country. But many say that the unit was
closed down owing to political pressure exerted by big time kassipu
mudalais on politicians.
