Chaos and mayhem expected in run-up to election-Police

By Gayan Kumara Weerasingha

Intelligence sources reveal that underworld gangs, organized criminals and army deserters have been mobilized to cause mayhem in the country as the election gathers momentum. They further say that there will be bloodshed in the run- up to the election. Politicians from both the government and opposition are organising these groups to create chaos. Intelligence sources warn that a situation of anarchy is expected. Many underworld gangsters, who had close contacts with politicians and fled the country earlier when they were being rounded up and have now been re-called by these very same politicians were now in the process of unleashing violence. Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne said that police check points have been set up in almost every village and every possible action has been taken to minimize election related riots. He said that police officers know how to curb violence and stated “that the country will see how the police will act in order to ensure a democratic election.’’
Although there was a lull in election violence after the presidential poll was announced, now violent gangs are gathering momentum. No murders have been reported so far but attempted murder, attacks, arson and abductions are on the rise.
Party offices have often been often set on fire and attacked. Although offices belonging to both major candidates had been attacked and burnt down, it is reported that supporters of the common opposition candidate faced the bulk of election violence.
The number of complaints regarding election violence and violation of election laws received by police headquarters elections secretariat by Friday 08 was 320. The majority of them were on attacks and arson of party offices. On the whole, the largest number of incidents have been reported from the Gampaha district. According to police, in this district these complaints were mainly from the Kelaniya police division. Police sources reveal that most of the incidents are not even reported. Meanwhile, police have arrested 45 people for incidents of election violence and violation of election laws so far. It is alleged that supporters of the government were the main offenders but ironically it was the opposition offenders who were taken into custody. UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara was taken into custody for election violence related incidents. MP Dayasiri Jayasekara was arrested on a complaint made against him for attacking a government supporter. He was bailed out . Except for five, all others arrested by police are either on police bail or court bail. Five supporters of the opposition are in remand prison.
The head of the police election secretariat Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne said that all political supporters arrested so far were innocent and have been arrested for no fault of theirs; organizers instigate them to carry out certain orders which are against the law. Police say Nuwara Eliya district reported the least number of incidents. According to police, election violence was on the rise because of support extended to unleash violence by some sections of the police. There were certain OICs who were in cahoots with these unruly elements. Meanwhile, police officers point out those huge cutouts of the president are displayed opposite some police stations and have not been removed proving beyond any doubt these OICs’ allegiances to the government.
However, when the police had received 320 complaints by January 8, none of the independent election monitoring organizations had received anything more than 200 complaints.