21,000 police deployed for upcoming elections

by admin
Aug 30, 2012
A spokesperson from the Sri Lankan Police has stated that 21,000 officers would be deployed during the upcoming elections, as the state looks to step up the presence of security forces.

SSP Ajith Rohana stated that amongst those deployed would be 123 Superintendents and Assistant Superintendants, 1,407 Chief Inspectors, Inspectors and Sub Inspectors including 68 women, 5,340 Police Sergeants, 12,886 Police Constables and a further 1,427 women Police Constables.

The announcement comes after the army also said earlier this month, that they would be intensifying their operations in the Eastern province, ahead of the Provincial Council elections.

See our earlier post: Army steps up operations in East ahead of elections (02 August 2012)

Earlier this year, the International Crisis Group released a report condemning the "deepening militarisation" of the North-East stating it was part of a strategy to ""change the facts of the ground", as has already happened in the east, and make it impossible to claim the north as a Tamil-majority area deserving of self-governance."

See our earlier post: Militarisation and colonisation is to negate call for Tamil self-governance – ICG (16 March 2012)

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