A group of persons stormed into the Godakawela Acting OIC obstructing his duties at the Cipetco petrol station in Godakawela yesterday (23) morning.
An incident was reported in which he was seen threatening and assaulting, touching his body.
According to our correspondent, peaceful people in the area have been waiting for days for fuel. They slept through the night in the huts. It is reported that there are frequent clashes between the two petrol stations in the area due to some people behaving in a very low manner, obstructing the people who come peacefully to get fuel. Such conflicts are caused by different people coming out of the queues.
A journalist videotaped several galloping people refueling gallons of fuel at the same gas station. He was also attacked recently and his video equipment was damaged. He has lodged a complaint with the Godakawela Police Station.
In such a backdrop, around 50 motorcycles had been smuggled into the petrol station last night (23) by people who had been waiting in fuel queues for days. People who had been waiting in line for days saw the motorcycles and demanded that they be removed. However, a motorcycle belonging to a businessman in the town was also in the motorbike and his motorbike had arrived in the queue to get fuel the day before and had been kept inside the petrol station due to lack of fuel. He was the one who evacuated the angry people as the businessman could not get fuel due to the intruders. The Godakawela OIC was not present when he shouted at the angry crowd and when he returned, the Acting OIC shouted at him and removed him from the scene. When he was being evicted, the OIC was being intimidated and influenced by people who did not stand in the fuel queue and provoked the people who behaved rudely.
In order to maintain peace, the OIC did his best to provide Rs. 2,000 for a motorbike and Rs. 3,000 for a three-wheeler so that everyone could get fuel. The patience of the peaceful police officer was high but the people of Godakawela as well as the people waiting in the fuel queue demanded that the law be enforced on them. It is our opinion that it should be done as well.
People who act unjustly are only temporary bullies. They have done nothing but harm to society. While hundreds of other people are queuing up, people all over Sri Lanka are suffering because the queue has not been forgotten.
Note by Sri Ravana.
If the people who had come peacefully to get fuel had stayed there at that time, they would have represented the police. If so, the army would have to fire to keep the peace. Due to their misconduct and the patience of the OIC, the possibility of a mass uprising against the security forces has been blocked by tens of thousands.
However, by allowing journalists to attack as well as the police to play, they are also acting in a despicable manner against the general public. Therefore, the law must be enforced against what happened in the last two days to prevent further riots.
Accordingly, Sections 100, 108, 110, 120, 138,139, 149, 150,156, 183, 184, 186, 220, 261, 341, 344, 408 of the Ceylon Penal Code are against assaulting and influencing the Acting Inspector of Police, Inspector Sasmendra. Criminal proceedings should be instituted against them.
If the police do nothing, they will continue to threaten the police as well as the public. Law and order must be enforced against them in order to maintain law and order in Godakawela town.
SSP in charge of Embilipitiya Division This is for your attention. We are also waiting for the law enforcement action to be taken on behalf of the Godakawela Police.
