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On Thursday, we commented on an incident where a pompous ruling party politico pounced on a police officer who made the mistake of paying him a courtesy visit, demanding to know how officers-in-charge of police stations in the Kurunegala District could be appointed without his consent. Our effort has yielded the intended results, we reckon. Zorro has been reduced to zero overnight! He is said to have solicited the help of a prominent Buddhist monk in the area to settle the dispute amicably. He must have had an earful from his bosses for being such an embarrassment.
What gives us greater pleasure, however, is the manner in which the police have handled the issue. The Gokarella OIC, who suffered indignities at the hands of the political rowdy, had the courage to report the incident to his superiors. We expressed fear, in our comment, that his complaint might boomerang on him. There have been a number of instances where politicians and their brats who set upon police personnel went scot free with their victims left with no alternative but to grin and bear it. But, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana on Thursday said in a letter to us that what we feared would not happen the IGP had been informed of the incident and action would be taken. What a relief! He made our day.
That should be the way to deal with political windbags riding roughshod over the law enforcement officers. SP Rohana, however, has stopped short of specifying what action would be taken. We do not think any legal action is possible because the politician has only barked and not bitten and the incident occurred during a courtesy visit. However, the politico deserves a dressing-down from his political masters who should also get him to apologise to the police officer. Most of all, the SLFP had better keep such elements on a tight leash if it does not want to be dubbed a party of thugs.
It is heartening that the police have plucked up the courage to take the political bull of Kurunegala by the horns. This kind of reaction is in stark contrast to how the police used to turn tail and run away when politicians went berserk. It may be recalled that a group of Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) sleuths who raided a Colombo night club considered a druggies` paradise were attacked by a politician`s son and his armed goons in 2005. The drug busters were beaten and even pistol-whipped. Some of them were injured in the attack. This is a country where ordinary suspects get assaulted to death in police stations even for stealing a water pump, but the assailants of the PNB officers got police bail within hours! We fought quite a battle through the pages of this newspaper to have the culprits punished, but in vain. The police top brass at that time adopted their favourite ostrich-like posture!
Meanwhile, let the IGP be urged to order his officers and men to desist from paying courtesy visits to political dregs. They must be told in no uncertain terms that if they lie down with dogs they will get up with fleas.
This country has enough and more temples, kovils, mosques and churches for police officers who assume duties at new stations to visit. There are also many lay dignitaries who deserve courtesy calls from public officers. The police must put an immediate end to the demeaning practice of falling at the feet of politicians. That is the first step towards reviving the rule of law that has been left to wither on the vine.
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AnuD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 60190
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 31 Jul 2012 14:10:16 GMT Report for Abuse
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It is good to read that Island had done something good in the past and was continuing the same work here too.
At least some newspapers are there to say say still the PEN IS STRONGER THAN THE SWORD and there are editors who have some standards in their lives.
anyway, I can not believe how much the life of police officials have degraded. If not, once they are posted to a certain station, why should they go and report to the nearby politician.
Further, I wonder why Island is scared to report the name of the politician. does it out the life of the writer in jeopardy. |
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