GEORGE TOWN: Fve men were shot dead during a police raid at an apartment in Sungai Nibong here at dawn today.
All five were ethnic Indians.
In the incident which happened at about 4.30am, police shot dead the five in the unit at the 11th floor of an apartment, located near the Pesta Site.
The five were said to be involved in several fatal shootings that took place across the country. They were Gobinath Jayasooryam, 31, Ramesh Raganathan, 27, Suresh Murugasen, 25, Vinuvt Anbalagan, 23, and Gobinath Myavanam, 21.
The Gobinaths were from Perai and Butterworth respectively, while the rest were from the island.
Police sources said records showed that Gobinath, Ramesh and Suresh have past criminal records.
Speaking at a press conference late afternoon in state police headquarters here, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the five were members of a notorious secret society.
But he did not name the secret society.
He alleged that they were criminal suspects wanted for 10 murder and two attempted murder cases that took place across the country since last year – seven killings and two attempted killings in Penang, two more in Kedah and one in Negeri Sembilan.
He said that one of the killed suspects was the mastermind behind the murder and attempted murder cases.
He said police had recovered three guns – a 38s revolver, Walther PPK and a Noricho. and several cellular phones, including old black and white mobiles sets, from the shooting scene.
According to Khalid, the fatal shooting today had “solved all these cases.”
“We have been monitoring these people for some time,” he said.
The firearms have been sent for ballistic test.
Killed in crossfire
When asked on how could police possibly link these cases with the killed suspects, IGP Khalid said current modern ballistic test technologies can help the police.
He said that the shooting happened when the police laid an ambush on the five after being tipped off that they were using the unit as their hideout.
When the police knocked on the door and called on the occupants to open the door, he claimed shots were fired at them.
“The police returned fire and the five were killed in the crossfire.
“No policeman was injured in the shootout,” he told the packed media room.
Also present were CID director Commissioner Abdul Hadi Ho Abdullah and state CPO Deputy Commissioner Abdul Rahim Hanafi.
Police dragnet
Later Khalid showed a bullet-proof shield used by the police. The shield showed five holes allegedly punctuated by stray bullets fired by the killed men.
The bodies were taken to the Penang hospital mortuary for post mortem. Abdul Rahim said that the bodies would be returned to the families once the post mortem had been completed.
Khalid confirmed the shooting today was part of police Ops Cantas (Cut-Off) that began last Saturday to combat rising crimes, especially major crimes, in the country.
Armed with Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) 1959, the police had already picked up 200 people across the country, some with criminal records, for crime screening.
Under PCA, police can detain these suspects for 72 days, after which they must be produced in court for further action, or be freed.
Khalid said police had been combing suspected criminal hideouts, entertainment outlets and restaurants to nab crime suspects.
He said he had informed the Attorney-General Chambers to classify offences under the CPA as “serious crimes” and to charge offenders with charges of heavy punishments.
“We will continue with out Ops Cantas to tackle crimes and criminal in the country,” he said.
Why weren’t they arrested?
In immediate response, Deputy Minister in Prime Minister’s Department and Hindraf national chairman P Waythamoorthy expressed reservation over the police fatal shooting.
He said the police should have given priority to catching the suspects rather than resorting to a brutal “shoot-to-kill” approach.
He said the people no longer believed the standard answers given by police that they only retaliated fire-to-fire after being shot at.
He said lay public had emphasised that the police were given gun to protect the people in accordance to the law, not to be carefree trigger happy.
“If true, the shot persons were crime suspects, the police should detain and charge them.
“That’s rule of law based on natural justice and universal concept of human rights. The most important rights of all is right to live.
“No one has the right to take away another’s life,” the Hindraf supremo told FMT.
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