By Nirmala Kannangara

At a media briefing held at Police Headquarters on Friday (28), IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne told the media that the recent criticism against the police was not fair. He complained that the media was taking undue pains to bring recent police torture into the limelight but was ignoring the good work done out by the Police Department.

“There are 75,300 police officers in the Police Department but less than 30 officers have committed brutal torture,” he said, adding, “In that backdrop why are all police officers being rated as inhuman?” he asked.

Torture of IT student

Speaking further the IGP said that although SSP Vass Gunawardena’s name has been dragged into the alleged torture of an IT student, Nipuna Ramanayake, people should not forget as to how much SSP Vaas Gunewardena was involved in helping curb terrorism. The Police Chief further lauded the now disgraced SSP of the Colombo Crimes Division for having “helped to recover arms and ammunition from terrorists.”

“True there were certain police officials who have muddied their hands engaging in torture and assaults, but that is only a handful not exceeding 30,” he said asserting that yet there were 75,270 police officers who have done a great deal to give maximum protection to the people in the country.

“With regard to SSP Vass Gunawardena’s incident we have already punished the culprits but why cannot the media highlight the good work carried out by the SSP?” the IGP complained.

He further said that all police officers found guilty of the Angulana double murder case, those involved in the Vass Gunawardena torture incident and the confrontation a police sergeant had with a doctor in Polpithigama have been sacked or remanded pending further investigations.

“The Police Department would not hesitate to take action against those who have violated the police law and there are around 168 more police officers that are facing legal action under the ‘Police Torture Act’ the IGP added.

Underworld gangs

Applauding the police for successfully recovering arms and ammunition from former Tiger territory in the recent past, the IGP said that the responsibility to crack down on underworld gangs and to eradicate illegal liquor and drugs from the country too lay with the police.

“With all this to our credit it is a pity why certain media institutions and political parties are attacking the Police Department for few faults forgetting the valuable service rendered by the police. We are not babies, we know why they want to attack the Police Department. It is just for petty politics,” the Police Chief stressed. .