-By Dr. Praneeth Abhayasundara
(Lanka-e-News -24.Feb.2025, 11.10 PM) When examining crimes, it is evident that authorities are focusing their attention on organized crime. At a special press briefing held on the 22nd at the Government Information Department, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya disclosed key findings. He revealed that 58 organized crime gangs and approximately 1,400 individuals associated with them have been identified. He also explained the efforts to reduce violence and introduced the hotline number 1997, urging the public to assist in crime prevention.
According to the Acting IGP, in just this year alone, 17 shooting incidents and 5 cases of gruesome murders involving dismemberment have been reported. Investigations into 17 of these incidents have already been completed. A concerning revelation is that several police officers and military personnel have been directly or indirectly involved in some of these cases, with 11 such officials already taken into custody.
Following investigations initiated after the current government came into power, authorities have uncovered a significant number of illegal firearms, including:
* 13 T-56 assault rifles
* 21 pistols
* 15 revolvers
* 1 AK-47 rifle
* 805 locally made firearms
* 75 12-bore shotguns
* 10 stone-cutting guns
* 7 repeaters
* 4 other unspecified firearms
However, these recovered weapons are just a fraction of the illegally used firearms in the country. To address this, rewards are being offered to the public for providing information about hidden weapons. Notably, a reward of one million rupees is being offered for information leading to the recovery of a T-56 firearm.
The Acting IGP emphasized that special police operations have been launched to combat organized crime, with specialized police teams deployed around the clock. He stressed the importance of public cooperation in ensuring the success of these efforts, urging citizens to report any suspicious activities via the 1997 hotline. He assured that informants' identities would be kept confidential.
Defense Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyyakontha addressed the issue from a socio-scientific perspective. He noted that economic difficulties and drug addiction have led some active-duty security personnel to associate with criminals. Additionally, there is a growing trend of individuals with military training, who leave service unlawfully, joining underworld gangs. This phenomenon has been a topic of discussion in criminology.
To address this, the military and police have recently been ordered to apprehend such individuals. According to the Defense Secretary, authorities have the capability to identify and arrest these deserters. Meanwhile, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala recently disclosed in Parliament that recent underworld activities are being orchestrated by a single organized group.
When examining the current state of criminal gangs, it is clear that they have a global reach. These networks engage in activities such as drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, human smuggling, contract killings, armed robberies, and money laundering. The spread of neoliberalism and advancements in information and communication technology have facilitated their growth. Organized crime networks comprise terrorist groups, rebel armies, fundamentalists, and separatists. Within these networks, splinter groups known as “underworld gangs” frequently form and disband, often leading to internal conflicts and murders.
Contract killing is a major aspect of organized crime. It involves hiring criminals to carry out assassinations while ensuring that no evidence links the contractor to the crime. This practice is prevalent in many countries.
A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology on 162 contract killings and attempted murders between 1989 and 2002 found that the primary motive was insurance fraud. Assassins were paid between $5,000 and $30,000, with an average rate of $15,000. During that period, 2% of all murders in Australia were contract killings. Similarly, in Scotland between 1992 and 2002, 5% of murders were contract killings. The primary reason for crimes evolving into structured organized networks is large-scale financial gain.
Criminologists categorize the root causes of crime into biological and sociological factors. According to forensic psychologists, most criminals exhibit severe childhood trauma, indicating that proper psychological development during childhood is crucial for long-term crime prevention.
However, instead of focusing on sustainable crime prevention strategies, recent trends suggest a return to barbaric practices such as arresting suspects and forcing them to reveal hidden weapons before presenting them in court. This is deeply concerning. Ironically, the current President, who vehemently criticized such practices while in the opposition, now seems to be promoting them. This shift is even more alarming than the rise of organized crime itself.
Ultimately, those involved in such oppressive measures will soon find themselves at odds with the evolving human consciousness, facing severe social backlash in the near future.
- Dr. Praneeth Abhayasundara
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by (2025-02-24 19:48:50)
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