Inspector General of Police (IGP) N. K. Illangakoon informed the public that the so called ‘Grease Devils’ is a myth and said that the police have arrested almost all the suspects, 47 persons involved in robberies and frightening women.

He said that the public should not disrupt their day to day activities because of these fake people. During investigations it was revealed that some had spread stories about Grease Devils roaming the area to carry out robberies and some had done so for fun.

IGP Illangakoon said that there are no so called ‘Grease Devils’ in villages across the country. During investigations they have been able to identify that most of the suspects are residents of the same area who engage in robberies and criminal activities.

Uva Province senior DIG Pujith Jayasundere who was responsible in arresting almost all the suspects as the incidents were mainly reported from his province said that the public should stop calling all robbers and thieves ‘Grease Devils.’

“We investigated 21 such incidents in Badulla, Mahiyangana, Girandurukotte, Rambewa, Siyabalanduwa, Alawathugoda, Kantale, Ampara, Nuwara Eliya, Hasalaka, Ridimaliyedda, Bibila and Nawalapitiya,” he said.

“Some were sexually frustrated and some were mentally disabled persons. But some engaged in gem mining and felling by frightening the residents of the areas,” he added.

“In Lindula the residents assaulted seven men who were on a business trip as the villagers thought that they were ‘Grease Devils.’ On several occasions it was difficult for the police to conduct its duty as the villagers of the particular area wanted to give their punishment to the suspects,” he added.

The name ‘Grease Devils’ came into being with the killings of several elderly women in Kahawatta. The three suspects wanted in connection with the killings were arrested by the police.  (Supun Dias)

Police Headquaters issued this picture which was saved in the phone of a 16 year-old who was arrested for a number of  robberies in the Uva Province.