PICTURES

Little India Riot: Committee of Inquiry will be formed by the end of the week, says DPM Teo

DPM Teo Chee Hean and SMS Masagos Zulkifli (second right) had lunch this afternoon with the Special Operations Command troopers who restored order in Little India on Sunday night. He expressed his appreciation to all the Home Team officers for their
DPM Teo Chee Hean and SMS Masagos Zulkifli (second right) had lunch this afternoon with the Special Operations Command troopers who restored order in Little India on Sunday night. He expressed his appreciation to all the Home Team officers for their good work. -- PHOTO: MHA
DPM Teo Chee Hean (third left) and SMS Masagos Zulkifli (not pictured) had lunch this afternoon with the Special Operations Command troopers who restored order in Little India on Sunday night. He expressed his appreciation to all the Home Team officers for their good work. -- PHOTO: MHA
DPM Teo Chee Hean (seond left) and SMS Masagos Zulkifli (not pictured) had lunch this afternoon with the Special Operations Command troopers who restored order in Little India on Sunday night. He expressed his appreciation to all the Home Team officers for their good work. -- PHOTO: MHA

The Committee of Inquiry to look into the cause of Sunday's riot in Little India will be formed by the end of the week, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement was released after DPM Teo and Minister of State for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, had lunch and met with police officers from the Special Operations Command (SOC) who responded to the incident on Sunday.

DPM Teo, who is also Minister for Home Affairs, was visiting the SOC to express his appreciation to all Home Team officers for their good work, including full-time National Servicemen who had responded to Singapore's first rioting incident in decades.

He said that to ensure things remain calm, the Government has introduced an alcohol ban in the Little India area this weekend and police has also increased their presence in foreign worker dormitories and places where foreign workers congregate so that life can go on as normally as possible and everyone has a feeling of security.

"Second, we will form a Committee of Inquiry by the end of this week," said DPM Teo. "We will have names and the terms of reference ready and this will provide a more in-depth look into this incident and also review the current procedures we have for places where foreign workers congregate and see whether there are improvements that are needed. And third, investigations are continuing."

The incident along Race Course Road on Sunday was apparently sparked by a fatal accident involving an Indian national who was killed after a private bus ran him over.

The violence was contained by 11.30pm, after about 320 law enforcement officers were deployed to the scene. DPM Teo said that the incident is a reminder for Singaporeans and our Home Team officers, that as "we strive for peace and harmony, the country must always be ready for contingencies".

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