The twist seemed glaringly obvious if not mischievous. I refer to the goon squad that terrorised The Sunday Times journalist last week and the Police report that followed.
The local Police sent in two reports to the authorities. The first dealt with the break-in by armed men carrying automatic pistols. Their finding — armed goondas did come.
The second ? Well, well... The Mirihana Police claim it was about a “blue van.” How clever !!. Very efficiently they tracked down the owner, living just 400 yards away from the house of the journalist. And they concluded with precision that they were not involved.
And a genuinely concerned Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, who undoubtedly believed in the Police report, declared at Thursday’s news conference that the second complaint did not seem right.
What was the second complaint? It was about the armed goondas returning a second time at midnight and not about blue vans. They were seen by two men who were outside and confirmed by a household help at the journalist’s residence, the man who was assaulted before the goons crept in. Then they saw a blue van (like the one that was used by the goons to get away) and passed down the number to the Police for verification.
Only one of the two men and the household help had their statements recorded about the second visit. This one man says a young officer who questioned him made suggestions and overtures to get him to say the people who turned up a second time were just workmen. He should know, for he was himself, a former Cop.
It was only after this event came the strange conclusion!
Is it because the ego of the top cop was hurt after the journalist complained that no patrol cars arrived (every half hour) despite a promise ? Your guess is as good as mine,
President Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera are eager to find out those behind what the Mirihana Police call “intimidation and threats.” But their findings about the so-called second complaint sure merits another look.
As one concerned but helpless senior Police official said, it is a case of running with the hares and hunting with the hounds. That sure has a message for the PA leadership who want to ensure transparency and a free media culture.
Two senior Briga diers will be Majors General from next week.
They are Brigadier Vasantha Perera and Brigadier Lohan Gunawardena. The former, now Adjutant General, has been named for a year long stint at a military academy in the United States.
Brigadier Gunawardena, a highly respected officer, is now officiating General Officer Commanding (GOC) Army’s 54 Division.
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