KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 ― The arrest of 503 criminals as compared to the elimination of 90 other criminals in shootouts with underworld gangs between 2011 and last month, is proof the police follow standard operating procedures (SOP) while carrying out law enforcement.
In relation to this, Federal CID deputy director (intelligence/operation) Datuk Mazlan Mansor denied accusations that the police shot dead criminals without following procedures.
“This is because, the total number of gunmen detained in operations and raids, far exceeded the number of those criminals who were shot dead in shootouts with the police,” he told reporters here today.
Prior to this, Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president N. Surendran had disputed the police action, alleging that members of the force did not follow SOP but were trigger-happy when dealing with criminals.
Recently, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi defended the police in their action against armed criminals, saying such action followed standards observed by Interpol.
Of the total arrests, the police picked up 121 criminals in 2011, 169 (2012) and 213 between January and September this year.
From the arrests, the police seized 573 firearms which comprised 212 semi-automatic pistols, 134 home-made pistols, 80 revolvers, 10 rifles, 36 shotguns, 15 hand-grenades, 71 air-pistols, 14 pump-action shotguns and a sub-machinegun.
On the ongoing “Ops Cantas” which was launched on August 17, Mazlan said the police would strengthen the operation by deploying the tracker dog unit to sniff out firearms and drugs, among others. ― Bernama
