STF step up combat against illegal activities

8 August 2011 12:16 pm Views - 5436

The elite Special Task Force (STF) has taken steps to establish a camp covering each of the administrative districts in the island to combat and tackle illegal activities which are difficult to be countered by the police.

STF Commandant DIG R.W.M.C Ranawana said that orders and instructions were given by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“Establishing camps is the first step taken by the STF to engage in the development activities in the respective districts. We have nearly five camps in the Batticaloa district. We have busted illegal felling, sand mining and cattle transportations taking place in the area especially inside the thick forests,” he said.

“We are assisting the police to arrest and raid illegal activities which takes place in the country. We have a total strength of 8,000 personnel with a vast intelligence network,” he added.

The STF is empowered to arrest suspects, carry out raids where illegal activities are taking place and assist the police.

“We are continuing in combating the underworld and we managed to catch Neluwe Priyantha, the undisputed underworld leader in the Southern Province. He was involved in more than 80 killings but only five or six incidents were recorded in police record books,” he added.

“We went to Kahawatta, assisted the police and arrested all the suspects who were killing women and frightening the public. The STF has been always admired by the public for the work it had done to maintain law and order,” DIG Ranawana said.

DIG Ranawana said that the public can inform the STF about any illegal activity or if they seek the help of the STF. The public can contact the following numbers: 2588499, 2588481, 2580518 and STF Intelligence on 2586363. (By Supun Dias)