Violent crimes thrive on the breakdown of social values
Changing social norms and the lack of state intervention to reach out to troubled persons have led to crimes of more heinous nature, an expert has said, as a number of gruesome killings in recent weeks have been reported from across the country.
The Sri Jayewardenepura University's Criminolo g y Pro f e s s o r, M. W. Jayasundara, said that although the murder rate -- the number of murders per 100,000 population -- has been maintained below three for several years, the killings have become more brutal compared to the past.
Calling for tougher laws and state measures to check violent crimes, the professor pointed out that organised crimes were on the rise largely because of a breakdown in interpersonal relationships between family members.
“The extended family which had strong interpersonal relationships has been replaced with nuclear family. In addition, more and more people are distancing themselves from religious activities and values,” the professor said.
“Many offenders do not foresee the consequences of committing a crime. The way people react to various situations can differ according to their maturity, family background and social background,” the professor said, adding that counselling and community-level programmes aimed at promoting social cohesion, good neighbourliness and values could minimise crime.
A breakdown in interpersonal relations is also the reason the police cited for the rise in violent crimes. Personal vendettas and illicit affairs were among the main causes for killings, Deputy Inspector General of Police Priyantha Jayakody observes.
A case that highlights the breakdown of family values was reported last week from Wasala Road, Kotahena.
Thirty-nine-year old Nishani Samuel's life was ended violently allegedly by her 33- year- old paramour. Responding to a neighbour's phone call to the 119 emergency hotline, the police arrived at her residence and found her body on the floor. Nishani's husband was working overseas. It was her 14-year-old daughter, returning from school, who first saw the body. Her screams alerted the neighbours.
Detectives found scars and wounds on Nishani’s face and neck and soon it became evident the killer had used a power cord of the smoothing iron to strangle her. Police found a pair of sunglasses the killer had left behind. Nishani's mobile phone and jewellery were missing. But police found Nimeshi's second mobile phone. Reading through the text messages, detectives found a clue -- an SMS sent by a woman, a beauty salon owner from Kadawatha.
Forensic evidence indicated that the killing had taken place between 10.30 am and 1.45pm on May 8.
The Kadawatha woman told police that the man they were looking for was her husband, but police investigations showed this was not to be. The suspect is a criminal polygamist and had affairs with several women.
Kotahena's Chief Inspector Priyantha Bandara told the Sunday Times the suspect from Kantale had gone to Qatar for employment after marrying a woman from Dehiattakandiya. He was fired from his job due to a financial fraud. After returning to Sri Lanka he married a Piliyandala woman who also worked in Qatar. The couple started a foreign job agency, but they closed it after a few months. In the meantime, the woman found out that her husband was already married and filed a case against him.
The suspect, separated from his second wife, got addicted to gambling and it was during this period that got into a relationship with the Kadawatha salon owner, a mother of a 14-year-old girl. The salon owner's daughter and Nishani's daughter were schoolmates. The school connection developed a friendship between Nishani and the Kadawatha woman. The two families visited each others' houses regularly and this led the suspect to start an affair with Nishani, ending years of friendship between the two women.
Chief Inspector Bandara said that in the meantime, the man began to suspect that Nishani had another secret lover. This had led to regular arguments between them. The suspect wanted to check her mobile phone but she refused. On May 8, too, a heated argument broke out after she refused to give him her mobile phone. The suspect then had used the power cord of the iron to strangle her.
Police soon arrested the suspect. Upon questioning the suspect, the Police found out that he had obtained a phone SIM Card, giving an identity card number of another person. While being a fugitive, he had placed a matrimonial advertisement, pretending to be an engineer. A Kandy family which responded to the advertisement had even paid him Rs. 600,000 after he had told them he needed money to prepare for the marriage.
In a similar case, on May 9, a 37-year-old woman and her six-year-old child were killed by her 65-year-old paramour following an altercation. Kosgoda Police OIC Chief Inspector Mahinda Karunanayaka said the suspect, a kapumahattaya or a marriage broker, had used a sharp object to slash her body after he suspected she was having an affair with another person.
Criminal lawyer Sunil Watagala said he saw a severe deterioration in social values and culture as one of the main causes for the escalation in violent crimes.
Petty altercations in families often end up in violence and this was largely due to the lack of discipline in society, he said.
As the recent hike in gruesome killings has caused alarm among the general public, Prof. Jayasundara said studies had indicated that more killings took place during festive seasons.
Police statistics show an overall decline in the number of killings till March when compared to the first three months of last year, but media reports have indicated a surge in violent crimes in recent weeks and months.
DIG Jayakody said most of the recent killings were due to personal disputes and the rise in violent crimes in recent weeks was being talked about because of media exposure.
The number of killings reported in the first three months of this year was 124. This, in comparison to the 82 killings reported in the corresponding period last month, was a decline, he said.
Last week, five killings were reported in the Gampola division, a week after shooting incidents were reported in Piliyandala and Imaduwa areas.
On May 2, a 72-year-old woman and her 36- year- old daughter were hacked to death in broad daylight inside their home in Gurupokuna, Hungama.
In a statement to police, the daughter’s husband had said that when he returned home from Hambantota, he found them lying dead inside the house. No suspects have so far been arrested for this double murder.
“These cases do not indicate a breakdown in law and order. Police have taken necessary measures have to curtail crimes,” he added.
But to tackle organised crimes, more state intervention is needed, Prof. Jayasundera said adding that punishment should be swift since this was believed to have the greatest deterrent value. The 17th century Italian philosopher and criminologist, Cesare Beccaria, recommended in his work 'On Crimes and Punishments' that swift punishment did prevent crimes, he said.