Law enforcement officials like those who Police our wellbeing are expected to protect and serve; and arrest those mischief makers. But blue collars themselves get in trouble evidently, consumed by lawmakers’ rage. It happens that no less than 8 Sri Lankan policemen were caught in the act of aiding suspects of “illegitimate-gambling”.
The arrested headcount should have been 20, but officers had arrested only nine. What then of the rest? The rest had been invited to disappear apparently.
According to Hiru News, eight officers were charged with the following; releasing suspects who were previously caught running an illegitimate gambling business in Wennappuwa. And here is where the plot thickens, so to speak. One of the prisoners is the officer-In-Charge of the Divisional Anti-Corruption Unit (DACU) itself; with the Chilaw police station.
THE REAL CULPRITS
This newly arrested line up turned out to include the inspector (DACU), a sergeant and five constables and a constable driver. Their involvements were speculated upon, investigated, criminalised and charged with. Police scrutiny initially engaged on a tip to the office of the Nattandiya Assistant Superintendent of Police. They were consequently accused of taking their duties for granted. This pointed to extorted money involved between the officers and suspects. They also allegedly took money that had been in possession of people at the scene when the officers administered the military action on September 6.
That dedication may be commendable but the danger it presents is inevitable. This past July, police raided an illegal gambling establishment in Kalutara where operators and gamblers had become dangerous. The Three officers who conducted the raid were attacked by those rounded up. Two police officers were hospitalised following the ambush-like-assault while the rest, save 1, got away.
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