Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that all the necessary freedom and authority had been given to the IGP and the Police Department to enable them to control the crime that takes place in the country.
“Today no one influences the police. The police do not take orders from ministers. Extensive freedom has been given to the IGP to enforce the law and arrest the culprits and do everything necessary to reduce crime in the country,” he said.
He denied that there was a crime wave in the country. “The crimes committed today are not the fault of the police or me or the government. If a father rapes his daughter or a step father rapes a step daughter, why do people blame the police? If people are killed due to rage are the police responsible? The police alone can’t control these crimes. Religious leaders, parents and the media must also help,” he said.
“On the other hand, if criminals are not taken into custody, or if organised gangs misbehave in villages, and they are not removed from society, the police are responsible. Therefore we gave them powers and freedom to punish the offenders irrespective of their positions,” he said.