Juvenile offences on the rise

by H. A. W. Hewawasam - Kandy Special

Juvenile offences are found to be on the rise in the Kandy district, the police said.

Among them there had been several incidents of sex harassment, where school girls and girls of tender age, in the age range of 5-12, had become victims. Close family relations were found to be the offenders said Kandy SSP Ranjith Kasturiratne.

He also said legal actions against the offenders fail - as some victims later slip up in giving evidence. Drug offenders, thefts and organised gangs of schoolchildren are scaring outsiders and found to be robbing.

Indecent behaviour at public places, parks and around the Lake have come to the notice of the police, where suspicious characters would be arrested and questioned he said.

Meanwhile the SSP Kandy Ranjith Kasturiratne said that all the police officers are instructed to be vigilant of any females, loitering about the Lake - and at any place in a suspicious manner who will be arrested. He said these persons will be advised at first and legal action would be taken for repeated offences.