News
It’s a crime
Two weeks ago a gang stormed a rent- a- car service in Borella and demanded money from the owners and when their demand was turned down they beat up the workers.
With the help of Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) at least five of the 12 youth were subsequently arrested and remanded until July 16.
In another incident in Rajagiriya, a gang that snatched gold chains was nabbed by the Thalangama police after a bystander noted down the number of a motorcycle used by two of the youth to get away.
In Narahenpita four men who regularly broke into houses and robbed gold, electronic items and other valuables was nabbed. The gang had stolen gold and other items to the value of more than Rs. 18 million after breaking into more than 20 houses in Thimibirigasyaya, Cinnamon Gardens, and Narahenpita.
Narahenpita OIC Damian Perera told the Sunday Times that they had been trying to track down the suspects for nearly four months as complaints regarding the loss of valuables in these areas kept mounting.He said during the course of the investigations they received information that a group of people who were known to be relatively poor were suddenly living it up spending lavishly at night clubs.
“The gang had disposed of valuables at cheap rates, such as selling off a 40 “ LCD TV for Rs 2,000, a gas cylinder at Rs. 300 and exchanged a laptop for a small quantity of heroin,” he said.
Some of the stolen gold jewellery was found buried in one of their houses, he said.
These are among a series of robberies and crime that have been reported in recent weeks.
The crime rate remains alarmingly high, with at least 45 cases of house break-ins, 18 robberies and five cases of rape being reported from various parts of the country daily.
During the past six months 7,924 cases of breaking into houses, 3,316 cases of robberies and 347 killings were reported to Police stations in various parts of the country.During the past six months at least 950 cases of rape, 650 abductions and 811 cases of grievous hurt were reported, police said.
Anti-child abuse laws under review
By Wasantha Ramanayake
A concept paper on proposed amendments covering child abuse will be reviewed this week by officers of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) and the Ministry of Justice. Once the paper is approved, it will be forwarded to the legal draftsman. A record number of cases of sexual abuse and rape of children has been reported over the past two weeks.
“The law should provide for a life sentence of rigorous imprisonment for child abusers,” Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda told the Sunday Times.
Minister Karaliyadda and the NCPA have called for tough action against child abuse.
Meanwhile, investigations are under way into the serial rape of a 13-year-old in Hakmana. Up to Friday, a total of 20 persons had been remanded in connection with the crime. Among the suspects are a Tangalle Urban Councillor and UPFA member, a millionaire businessman, and the proprietors and managers of tourist hotels in the Tangalle area.
On June 4, the 13-year-old schoolgirl had left her home to head out to Tangalle in search of employment. It is understood that the girl had problems at home. The police said the girl was repeatedly raped during a six-day ordeal that took place in four different hotels. The girl managed to escape and join her parents, made a complaint to the Hakmana Police. Investigations are being conducted by the Tangalle Police Child and Women Bureau.
In a separate incident, the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha chairman was arrested for alleged abuse of a 14-year-old at a guesthouse belonging to him. The suspect, Saruwa Liyanage Sunil, has been remanded by the Matara Magistrate till July 16.
On June 30, a six-year-old Grade 1 schoolgirl from Kirulapone was raped and drowned in a canal. According to a Police source, the girl was in the company of a 16-year-old male relative on the evening of the incident. The youth was said to have been under the influence of liquor. The girl and her mother had visited the relative’s home after attending a church function in Siddhartha Road. Several persons have been arrested in connection with the crime.
On July 2, a 55-year-old van driver was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a four-and-a-half-year-old girl who trave’lled in his van to attend a pre-school in Wennappuwa.
Police Media spokesman SP Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Times that child abuse is escalating. In the last six months, at least 700 cases of child molestation have been reported. Of last year’s 1,775 rape victims, 1,169 were children.
Child Protection Authority chairperson Anoma Dissanayake told the Sunday Times that sensationalized media accounts of rape incidents only encouraged more such crime. She said the most vulnerable were children of low-income families, where the father was a labourer or a farmer.
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