News
STF to play crucial role in curtailing violence at the upcoming polls
The Special Task Force (STF) will be entrusted with additional responsibilities in handling security for the upcoming Parliamentary elections, a senior official said yesterday.
Public Order Ministry secretary T.M.K.B. Tennkoon told the Sunday Times that in contrast to previous security arrangements the STF will be made use of to prevent election related violence. “Due to the intensified competition for this election we expect an increase in violence and therefore we are taking additional precautions,” he said.
He said one of the plans included getting the STF to trail certain politicians who have been notorious for creating violence during elections. ‘Their past records and intelligence reports have been taken into consideration for this programme,” he added.
A similar plan will be put into force in selected areas as well where violence could be expected.
The detailed security plan will be spelt out at meeting to be held with the Inspector General of Police N.K.Illangakoon, Commandant of the STF Deputy Inspector General of Police Ranjith Perera and other senior DIGs to be held tomorrow after nominations close.
DIG Perera told the Sunday Times that under the proposed plan four mobile units each will be sent out from the 59 camps located throughout the island while 30 to 40 STF personnel would be kept on standby in each of the camps to be moved out to curb any possible violence.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Elections) Gamini Nawaratne told the Sunday Times that in addition to the security arrangements by the STF, each of the SSP Divisions will have units to obtain complaints about election related violence. ‘They will co-ordinate with respective police stations and obtain details about election related incidents,” he added.
He said that soon after nominations close they hope to deploy policemen with video cameras to track down persons involved in processions that have been banned during the election period. He said it was a request from the Commissioner of Elections as the evidence can be used to produce the culprits in courts.
By Friday the Elections Department received 111 complaints of election-related offences.