(COLOMBO) – Over 3,000 individuals including nearly a hundred women have been arrested in a special crackdown by police and the security forces on suspected crime suspects throughout Sri Lanka since Sunday last week, officials said.
The special operation has been launched on individuals known for their connections to the drug trade, crime and vice, they said.
A large amount of a mixed bag of narcotic substances, small arms, real estate and even vehicles owned by suspected drug traffickers have been seized in the raids that will continue until Christmas Eve, they added.
According to the officials the crackdown was urgently needed to stem the rise in crime including contract killings, arson attacks, drugs and human trafficking, forgeries and so on in recent times.
The crackdown was initiated by the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon under the instruction of the Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.
However the pair has come under criticism for more than one reason.
The High Court in a recent ruling found Tennakoon guilty of torturing a suspect and ordered to pay compensation to the victim.
The Court also ordered the National Police Commission (NPC) to carry out a full investigation into the incident.
Minister Alles has drawn the ire of the legal fraternity in the country over remarks that suggested the police could shoot on sight suspected drug dealers and criminals.
He also slighted lawyers that appear on behalf of drug dealers in remarks made to a police community meeting held recently.
