IGP orders OICs to get tough with troublemakers

By Norman Palihawadane

IGP C. D. Wickremaratne has issued a special circular, ordering the OICs to step up police patrol.

The IGP has said that the intelligence agencies have warned of the possibility of some persons, with the assistance of social media platforms, organising incidents of social disturbances and violence and planning various criminal offences.

Police have been tasked with preventing unlawful assembly and taking every possible measure to prevent violence and crimes and to open fire, if necessary, to prevent violence.

The circular had been sent via all Senior DIGs, and DIGs of each police district and officers in charge of all divisions, sources said.

Meanwhile, over 1,000 policemen have been summoned, from the provinces, to the capital today for special duties.

Police headquarters sources said that they would be deployed for special duty from tomorrow (17) to Friday (20).

Additional forces have been brought from the North, Uva, Sabaragamuwa provinces and police training college. “They have been asked to bring their national and police identity cards, pocket notebooks, rain coats, helmets and batons. They have been ordered to report to the Mirihana police grounds under the DIG of Colombo South Range,” sources said.