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NPC urges action after Police Yukthiya operations come under fire
View(s):The National Police Commission (NPC) has written to Acting Inspector General Deshabandu Tennakoon, raising concern over the “Yukthiya” (Justice) anti-narcotics police operation countrywide.
The NPC’s letter to the Acting IGP has drawn his attention to media reports and social media posts regarding the way the operation is being conducted and complaints from the people. Accordingly, the Commission has directed Acting IGP Tennakoon to ensure that the operation is conducted while adhering to due legal process and existing laws, and to instruct his officers to act in a manner that does not violate fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
The Commission has also emphasised that strict disciplinary action must be taken against any officer found to have acted in violation of the law.
The NPC has informed the acting police chief to convey these instructions to all officers and to report back to the NPC detailing the steps that were taken in this regard.
The NPC’s instructions come amid growing criticism of the “Yukthiya” operation, which will complete one month next week.
On Friday, United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk expressed serious concern over the ongoing operation.
“We are very concerned that authorities in Sri Lanka are adopting a heavily security-based response to the country’s drug problem, instead of public health policies grounded in human rights,” Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated. She cited allegations of various human rights violations during the operation, including unauthorised searches, arbitrary arrests and detention, ill-treatment, torture, and strip searches in public.
Earlier this week, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) too expressed concern over the operation, noting that the operation had become associated with reports of widespread injustice, making its very title ‘Yukthiya’ (the Sinhala term for ‘justice’) a misnomer.
Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said officers were constantly told they must adhere to the law when conducting their operations. “The Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) are daily instructed to maintain discipline among their officers. We have made it clear to them that any officers who are found to have acted wrongfully will be severely dealt with,” he said.
Given the vast scale of the operation, SSP Thalduwa said it was possible that some incidents might have occurred. But he said some reports publicized on social media were found to be exaggerated.
“While we will take action against officers found to have committed wrongdoing, we must also remember that criminals are also looking to frame officers to put them in difficulty. In such situations, we will stand with our officers,” he added.
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