Mattakkuliya clash: OIC, all Policemen transferred

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

All senior and junior Police officers including Mattakkuliya Police OIC have been transferred out of the police division following a clash between the Mattakkuliya police and villagers.

According to Police sources the villagers had started protesting against the Police after a youth is alleged to have sustained injuries while in custody.

The OIC and a few officers of Mattakkuliya Police Post had arrested this person who was found with heroin in his possession. When he was at his own house he deliberately cut his hand with a glass in the presence of the Police.

The suspect who was bleeding profusely was hospitalised after being brought to the Police post. Following the hospitalisation of the suspect the villagers had commenced a protest against the Police officers of Mattakkuliya Police post, accusing the police of assaulting him.

A large number of protesters had surrounded the police post and thrown stones at it. Police sources said the police post was damaged by the mob.

A full scale investigation is being carried out into this incident by the Colombo Crime Division, Criminal Investigation Department and Police Narcotic Bureau.

Following a joint search operation by Police and Army personnel around 200 persons were questioned and 25 suspects taken into custody. Legal action will be taken against them. Normalcy has been restored to the area.