Ground commander could have done more to deter rioting crowd: COI

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

The ground commander who decided to "hold the ground" at the start of the Little India riot was on Tuesday told by the Committee of Inquiry (COI) that he "could have done more" to deter the crowd.

On day nine of the hearing, the committee grilled the commander of Tanglin Police Division, deputy assistant commissioner (DAC) Lu Yeow Lim on his decision -- for his group of Tanglin police officers to wait half an hour for their Special Operations Command colleagues to turn up at the scene of the riot, before taking any action.

The COI said the move could have emboldened the crowd and worsened the situation.

But DAC Lu told the committee he decided to "hold the ground" in a defensive position behind shields, as he and his eight other officers were outnumbered.

DAC Lu said there were about 150 rioters around them.

He told the committee he drove from home in plain clothes to the scene, right after he was informed of the incident.

He reached the junction of Hampshire Road and Race Course Road at about 10.06pm.

But DAC Lu could not find out the number of officers on the ground, as the communications network was “jammed”.

He also added that he and his officers were surrounded by rioters who were pelting projectiles at them non-stop.

Based on his assessment, DAC Lu said it was best he and his men stayed where they were, as he had reason to believe the crowd would close in on them, if they left their shields.

But the committee said the half hour of inaction would lead the crowd to believe it is “free play” for them.

Committee member John De Payva, a former labour chief, pointed out that DAC Lu -- who was not in police uniform -- could have walked to other parts of the riot scene to find out more about the situation, including determining the number of officers on the ground.

But DAC Lu said he had been struck by projectiles twice and the crowd had targeted him.

He also added that, according to police procedures, commanders should not be involved in the heat of action and lose focus of command and control.

Committee chairman G Pannir Selvam started the session ton Tuesday by reminding DAC Lu that the purpose of the hearing is to find facts, rather than prosecute or persecute individuals.


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