Inspector General of Police should bear responsible

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It was reported that “Ten policemen attached to the Elpitiya Police Training College who were under the influence of alcohol, were taken into custody by the Agarapathana Police  for  causing disturbances to  public  This is not the first time the misconduct and criminal behavior of the said Policemen attached to Elpitiya Police Training College, were reported.

Earlier on 27 March 2006, a gang of police officers attached to Elpitiya Police Training College, brutally assaulted one Dharmawardene, who is a trishaw driver. He subsequently filled a Fundamental Rights Case in the Supreme Court against seven police officers attached to the said Elpitiya Police Training College and the Inspector General Of Police who is the Head of Department.

The Supreme Court decided that "the fundamental rights of the Petitioner (O K D Dharmawardene) guaranteed to him under Article 11 and 12 (1) of the Constitution have been violated by causing inhuman and degrading treatment by the 1st to 7th Respondents”. The court upheld that the seven police officers attached to Elpitiya Police Training College had violated the fundamental rights of the Petitioner, O K D Dharmawardene.

Court also very clearly defined the command responsibility of the Inspector General.

“The 8th Respondents who was the officer in charge of the police training college under whom the 1st to 7th Respondents were on duty and the 9th Respondent(Inspector General of Police) who is the head of the police department are liable for the aforesaid actions of the 1st to 7th Respondents."

In this case Supreme Court ordered the Inspector General of Police to pay Rs. 25,000/= as compensation to the Petitioner, O K D Dharmawardene.

At first, this incident again very clearly establishes the fact, that the collapse of the rule of law of the country.  If the Inspector General of Police could have acted as a responsible officer (Head of Department) this incident on 'May Day' at Agarapathana would not have happened.

Secondly, this also shows that the coward slogan “Mathata Thitha” put forward by the President Rajapakse will not apply to law enforcement officers.