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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Reining in the crime wave by Jayampathy Jayasinghe Shot at point blank range, killed in a drive by shooting, stabbed, bludgeoned, strangled - gruesome tales of murder have become a daily staple in Colombo and many parts of the country making many wonders whether law and order has taken a leave of absence, allowing the criminal elements to take over the streets.
The proliferation of professional contract killers, whose services are readily available to those who are prepared to pay any price to have their enemy opponent or even friend bumped off have added fuel to these thoughts. And if that's not enough the spreading tentacles of crime have in recent times brought out into the open another aspect of criminal activity -gang warfare among rival groups for territorial rights, control of the lucrative drug trade and even first dibs on contract killings. Colombo city is fast gaining the dubious reputation as being the battle ground for murder and mayhem as it the hub for all the nefarious activities, including the drug trade. The police looked powerless to maintain law and order with no effective strategy to combat organised crime. However a series of discussions between the Ministry of Public Security and Law and Order and the Police to map out an effective strategy to combat the rising wave of crime recently, saw the launch of the Anti -Crime operation in the Western province last month to flush out underworld criminals from their hideouts. The anti crime drive in its initial foray into the crime scene struck gold with the arrest of two top underworld figures from Ragama and Bloemendhal road Kotahena, who were responsible for committing several unsolved murders. While in the course of the investigations, the police were able to recover several stolen vehicles. According to DIG Crimes and Intelligence, Jayatha Wickremaratne several underworld figures have fled their hideouts in Colombo and are on the run as they have begun to feel the heat of the anti -crime operation. Due to ongoing operation there haven't been any murders reported in Colombo for 30 days until the killing of a notorious underworld leader named Wijendra Peters alias "Jeeboy" at Alexandra Place by two gunmen last week.
The victim was shot dead with a T-56 automatic rifle and a pistol while inside a car at a petrol station at Borella. Three persons had been in the car at the time of the shooting and one had sustained injuries. The injured person was admitted to the National Hospital Colombo. The assassins had fled the scene in a vehicle after the shooting. The murders at a time when the Anti-Crime drive is on has once again raised the question as to just how effective the police is in preventing crime. Director, Colombo Crime Division (CCD), SSP Sarath Lugoda investigating the shooting case said the killing was a result of long standing dispute between two factions of a gang. The gang responsible for the shooting had been identified and CCD officers are optimistic that the suspects would be arrested soon. According to DIG Wickremaratne 60 per cent of the serious crimes are committed in the Western Province. The Special Crime Unit at Police Headquarters made a prize catch when they arrested a suspect at Kurululawa Ragama on a tip off. While being interrogated the man admitted that he had killed several persons at Modera, Grandpass, Kadawate and Wattala areas. The arrest paved the way for the recovery of a Mitsubishi (white) car and a Mazda van. The same unit arrested a suspect at Bloemendal Road Colombo 14, involved in two murders at Modera. The gang members belong to the Kota-Daya faction that have been terrorising the area. Another notable arrest was made by the Special Crime Unit at Police Headquarters last Thursday when they intercepted two vehicles at Nawagamuwa and arrested nine persons. The suspects while being interrogated have admitted committing serious crimes which are being investigated Meanwhile one suspect had admitted killing two persons at Mettiayagoda. The suspect has been handed over to ASP Hettiarchchi of the Southern Crime unit for further inquiry. Meanwhile serious crimes have been reported from Nugegoda, Chillaw Wattala and Mount Lavinia areas during the month of August. Police have launched an investigation into a shooting case at Soyza Flats Ratmalana where a man was killed. Although the motive appears to be previous enmity, the suspects have not been arrested so far. A case of murder was reported at Wellampitiya, where a man was assaulted with a club at Madinnagoda. Police are inquiring whether it was due to sudden provocation. Two cases of murder by strangulation and shooting was reported from Marawilla and Modera Colombo. Of the serious crimes reported islandwide from 26.07.2004 to 31.08.2004, police have so far been able to solve 65 of the 110 homicide cases, 72 rape cases 67 robberies. Five bank robberies reported have not been solved, but all twenty nine cases of child abuse have been solved. Of the 97 vehicle thefts 13 have been solved. Police have also recovered one shot gun, one repeater shot gun, three T-56 automatic rifles, seventeen Galkatas, one Revolver and 46 cartridges and ammunition. Meanwhile there has been a drastic reduction of crime especially in the Western province since the Anti- Crime operation got underway. Theft of motor cycles have also dropped from 42 to 7, three wheelers from 17 to 7, cars from 2 to 1. But the theft of vans has increased from 6 to 8. |
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