Police awareness programmes on ‘Grease Devils’

By Supun Dias

The Police Department is conducting awareness programmes to educate the people and to prevent the spread of rumours on ‘Grease Devils’ in villages islandwide. So far the police have conducted such programmes in 1856 villages.

The police have increased road patrols and mobile road blocks in these areas.

Police media spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said the main concern of the police was to track down the individuals who spread such rumours.

Police have so far arrested 47 persons involved in robberies and frightening women by portraying themselves as ‘Grease Devils’.

Among the suspects were individuals who had spread rumours about ‘Grease Devils’. Recently five youths were arrested in Gampola for spreading rumours.

According to police during investigations it was revealed that some had spread stories about Grease Devils roaming the area to carry out robberies and others had done it for fun.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) N. Ilangakoon vowed tough action would be taken against individuals who spread rumours about ‘Grease Devils’.

Incidents relating to ‘Grease Devils’ were reported in Badulla, Mahiyangana, Girandurukotte, Rambewa, Siyabalanduwa, Alawathugoda, Kantale, Ampara, Nuwara Eliya, Hasalaka, Rideemaliyadda, Bibile, Nawalapitiya, Kinniya, Muttur and Pottuvil.

The name ‘Grease Devils’ came into the folklore with the killings of several elderly women in Kahawattea. The three suspects wanted in connection with the killings were arrested by the police later.