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Easter Sunday probes: Police, AG trade allegations over delays
Failures to take timely action and even negligence in some instances have dogged the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in its probes on April 21 Easter Sunday massacres.
As the probes enter a third month, the CID, together with the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), which functions under its purview, is holding 102 suspects in custody. Police action has also led to the remanding of more than 900 suspects for being in possession of swords, books and “other suspicious items.”
A Sunday Times investigation, appearing in today’s Political Commentary, makes clear that the CID was well aware of plans by the IS-backed Muslim group to carry out attacks. It came when the CID took over the probe on the Buddha statue attacks last year.
It has now transpired that three suspects named by an Indian intelligence agency that on April 8 alerted on the attacks, were in the knowledge of the CID. Questioning the suspects also led the CID to the operational base at a Vanathavillu coconut estate in the Puttalam District. Bomb making materials were among the items found in this hideout. Empty barrels at the scene, coupled with other evidence, have raised suspicion that the bombs used in the massacres were manufactured thre.
This raid also led to visits to Vanathavillu by intelligence operatives from the different agencies and armed forces. A second raid led to the discovery of two pistols — together with a T-56 rifle — used by two Vavunativu policemen who were killed by the extremist group members. They were the first victims of IS-backed terrorism in Sri Lanka though the Police first believed it was the work of remnants of the LTTE.
The Police Commando arm, the Special Task Force (STF), a senior official said, was also disappointed over the response to the information it gave to the CID about the explosion of a ‘motorcycle bomb’ in Kattankudy in the Batticaloa district. This, the official said, was a “test run” before the bombs that killed 268 people during the Easter Sunday massacres. CID officials were not available for comment and their telephones went unanswered yesterday.
In another development, the CID alleged that there were delays on the part of the Attorney General’s Department when it sought legal advice.
One instance the CID cited was a request it made in 2017 when it sought advice on which laws it should deal with on the conduct of a suspected terrorist group. However, an AG’s Department spokesperson said they did reply because the material forwarded was not adequate to provide an opinion. The CID has said that this response came only last week.