Countrywide disarmament program under way:

Police to fight crime in all forms

by Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

According to the Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities, there is no ‘Underworld’ at present. The ‘Underworld’ or organised armed gangs that were nurtured and backed by the unclean political system for over 60 years has been eliminated parallel to the end of the three decade dark period. The Forces returning after defeating terrorism hunted down these gangs who once terrorised the South.

The issue seemed clear for a good couple of years with hardly any alarming activity involving armed violence being reported but law and order in the Southern towns seemed to be short- lived. Incidents of firing, armed heists and shooting people at point blank range started to mushroom every now and then giving society the scare of a bygone era. Matters got worse when these daring underworld elements showed no hesitation even when they were confronted by law enforcement agents.

The killing of the Kelaniya UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha member, Hasitha Madawala outside his residence by an unidentified gunman in January 2013, Shooting the Peliyagoda UPFA Urban Council member Chamila Sandaruwan who was gunned down in his car by an unidentified gunman in May this year and shooting a bus conductor at the Tangalle Bus Stand in June were some of the widely publicised and fresh cases reported to date.

Moreover, the killing of a constable attached to the Matara Police Station along with his wife in their house in Kamburupitiya by an armed gang in November 2013 and the abduction of two constables attached to he Kurunegala Police Station and shooting one of them in May, were instance that proved that these cold blooded killers would not even hesitate to go up against a law enforcement officer if they are comfortably armed with weapons.

The gruesome manner in which constable Chandana Sampath was beaten and finally shot in the head sent shock waves, questioning the security of normal civilians when policemen were massacred in cold blood.

The latest shooting incident reported last week where two male youths were gunned down again by an unidentified gunman in Mahawatta, Grandpass. Residents in the area witnessed how a pillion rider of a motorcycle armed with a T-56 assault rifle opened fire at a group of youth and fled killing two on the spot and injuring two others. Although various interpretations were given to the incident that rivalry between two underworld factions over the sale of drugs had lead to the killings, one cannot ignore the fact that terror of weapons had overcome our 'neighbourhood' once again.

Referring to this case Police Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana told the media last week that signs of an emerging gun culture is once again evident in the country and that stern action will be taken against those who disturb the law and order of society.

According to Sri Lankan Law, the possession and use of a firearm without a valid license is prohibited. This is clearly mentioned in the Offensive Weapons Act in 1966 and Firearms Ordinance or Amendment to the Offensive Weapons Act in 1996.

Also the possession of explosives without license or permits and the possession and use of bombs or improvised explosive devices are prohibited according to the Explosives Act.

The Offensive Weapons Act in 1966 provides for the prohibition of the importation, manufacture, possession, sale, exposure for sale, acquisition, transport, use or supply of and of the doing of certain other acts or things with Offensive Weapons.

As a result the possession, sale and use of an automatic firearm is prohibited for civilians and those who violate that law are punishable under the Law, with at least a prison sentence of 20 years.

Those who possess explosives or bombs will be charged with the death penalty or a sentence of 20 years in prison. Those who will attempt to use explosives for any malicious activity or will be dealt with the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1979.

Although people in the outstations or rural villages possess firearms for agricultural needs and to protect themselves from wild animals, those weapons have to be possessed with a license and the license ought to be renewed once a year. However, by no means anybody except for a member of a law enforcement agency are allowed to possess or use an automatic gun.

Only members of the three forces, the police, other paramilitary units as well as VIP close protection units are allowed to bear automatic guns. Even the members of the close protection units or the bodyguards of VIPs could possess an automatic or semi automatic weapon with a license or a permit only.

But it was evident that these laws were hardly followed by certain groups that engaged in various unlawful activities in recent times bearing automatic weapons. Close Circuit Television Camera footage recorded how these gangs possessed state- of -the- art guns and revolvers used in many robberies, looting incidents and armed hold- ups. It was shocking to learn that certain gangs possessed weapons which were never even sighted by the security forces. It is questionable how these people got hold of such latest sophisticated weapons.

This was a dangerous trend that was developing within society sending warning signals to the police. Since police action against this developing crisis seemed to be an urgent need of the hour, we spoke to SSP Ajith Rohana to learn more about this emerging gun culture.

Speaking to the Sunday Observer SSP Rohana admitted that there is a serious situation developing at present involving firearms. The main reason he pointed out was armed terrorism that prevailed over the three decades. When a country is experiencing an armed conflict for a long time ,some of the side effects of terrorism is drug trafficking and weapons smuggling.

When weapons in large quantities aresmuggled into the country it is inevitable that a considerable amount of that bulk falls into the hands of local unlawful groups that associate with the terrorist outfits to carry out the illicit businesses.

And during the final stages of a war when terrorist outfits were being defeated it is possible for the former to leave behind caches of weapons that may fall into the hands of the civilians.

This was a very common scenario in the countries around the world which were affected by armed conflicts. The weapons that were leaked into the public were thereafter used for various law breaking instances. And armed gangs and Mafia groups were born. It was a never ending battle for the law enforcement agencies to fight these groups in certain countries.

However to mitigate this problem many war affected countries followed disarmament programs following the armed conflicts.

Although the chief terrorist or extremist outfit was defeated it was not an easy task to wipe out small armed groups that operated for its own agendas. According to these disarmament programs amnesty periods were granted for these armed groups to hand over their weapons to the security forces. Or sometimes the security forces launched special operations in search of these scattered weapons instead of granting an amnesty period.

The SSP said that following the war on terrorism, there was no proper disarmament program launched in the country. Because of this growing threat the security forces and the police are planning to launch a countrywide disarmament program to collect weapons now in the hands of the Underworld.

Special tactical operations have already been launched and gathering information related to such gangs from grass root level has also commenced. The Police Department will seek assistance with regards to this from its paramilitary wing the Police Special Task Force.

The authorities believe that there are several thousand weapons being circulated among various armed groups at present. According to statistics there are about 20, 000 wanted persons in connection with various crimes and offences including those who have been issued with warrants. Since the end of the war on terrorism in 2009, the police have recovered a number of guns and explosives every year. Most of these firearms were automatic revolvers, pistols and assault rifles.

The bombs included grenades, mines, improvised explosive devices, TNT, Dynamite, C4 and Gelignite.

Responding to the disarmament program Commandant Police Special Task Force SSP Ranjith Perera told the Sunday Observer that the STF is ready to support the police whenever they require any assistance in fighting armed gangs of the Underworld. At present the STF is also carrying out its own operations in search of these groups and collecting information.

The Intelligence Wing of the STF is closely monitoring the movements of various armed individuals and gangs that engage in robberies, killings and rivalry among gangs. The STF too had made considerable amount of detections of illegal possession of weapons, he said.

However the Commandant pointed that what is most important is the public assistance in detecting such weapons and gangs. Public information leading to the arrests and recovery of weapons is more successful than any other mission.

All these law breaking individuals do live in a society surrounded by their relatives and friends. Therefore the solid information of their whereabouts will be known only by those who live with them.

They are the people who can assist the law enforcement agencies to conduct successful raids in search of weapons and explosives, SSP Perera further said.

The STF is requesting from the public to supply any information related to possession of weapons or armed gangs to its hotline 0112 580518. STF pledge to maintain the anonymity of the informants with attractive rewards for information leading to successful detections.