Questions over probe into kneeling of policemen

While special police investigations into the recent incident at the Kattankudy Police station have concluded and a report to IGP N.K Ilangakone was due soon, questions have been raised within the Police Department over allegations made against Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara.

Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told Daily Mirror Online that statements from 42 officers have been recorded and the report would be submitted shortly for the IGP’s perusal.

Earlier Eastern Province Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara was alleged to have made Police personnel kneel after a sergeant attached to the Traffic Division of the Kattankudy Police was nabbed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2000.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Justice Priyantha  Perera also said the commission was currently investigating the matter.
The other members in Commission are Ms. Jezima Ismail, Dr. Prathiba Mahanama, T. E. Anandarajah and Dr. Bernard de Silva.

The former Police Narcotics Bureau head was instrumental several years ago in preparing a report which contained evidence of a former IGP allegedly attending a birthday party of a Drug kingpin’s daughter at a Star Class hotel in Colombo. The evidence led to the premature resignation of this Police Chief, sources said.

Earlier, media reports said that over a 100 Police officers attached to the Kattankudy Police station were made to kneel down on Saturday September 7.
The allegations were immediately denied by the Police, who said that the Senior DIG had warned the personnel present against soliciting of bribes during a stern lecture.

The Daily Mirror learns that after the incident the Senior DIG had reportedly held a conference, in which all Police officers except station OICs were summoned to Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa.Snr. DIG Jayasundara had reportedly addressed the conference simultaneously through skype and warned Police officers to desist from corrupt activity.

The rapid fire Police action against the Snr. DIG was also questioned after the Police are yet to take any action against the Police top brass in charge of the Sabaragamuwa divison. (Hafeel Farisz and Jehan Gunasekara)