Force may be used against those evading checkpoints, warn police

Colombo, May 28 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka Police urged the public to fully cooperate with law enforcement officers during vehicle inspections and residential searches, warning that attempts to evade police checkpoints or obstruct official duties could result in legal action and the use of necessary police force.

The statement follows an incident in the early hours of this morning in which police opened fire on a vehicle that repeatedly ignored orders to stop at three separate checkpoints within the Minuwangoda police division.

Police spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said that the vehicle’s refusal to halt at consecutive roadblocks raised suspicions that the occupants were involved in illegal activity, prompting officers to pursue the vehicle and use firearms force to stop it.

The vehicle was eventually intercepted in the neighboring Seeduwa police area, where two suspects were arrested. The vehicle involved has also been taken into police custody.

Police said that two special investigation teams operating under the supervision of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Minuwangoda Police have launched investigations to determine whether the suspects are linked to organised criminal gangs, connected to another crime, or were attempting to flee a crime scene.

ASP Wootler warned that evading law enforcement commands would lead to an immediate and forceful response.

"If the Sri Lanka Police approaches you at any time to inspect your home or search your vehicle, you must extend your full, unreserved cooperation. If you fail to do so, you will ultimately have to face severe legal consequences. It is precisely because of such non-compliance that police force had to be deployed in this instance," ASP Wootler said.