4 June 2020 03:02 pm
An investigation had been launched by the SSP Kalutara over a video circulating on social media which shows a 14-year-old autistic boy at Dharga Town in Aluthgama being allegedly harassed by Police officers, the Police said.
According to the complaint made by the boy’s father, the incident had occurred on May 25 at a Police checkpoint at the Ambagaha Junction in the Dharga Town during the curfew.
A.H.M Wazeer, the father of the victim, has sent a letter to the DIG Kalutara North on May 29 demanding justice for his son Thariq Ahamed, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behaviour.
The father said his son had wandered out of the house on his bicycle and was harassed by the Police officers at the checkpoint and then they had tied his hands.
In his letter, he said that he visited the Aluthgama Police Station to lodge a complaint over the matter.
However, the officers have allegedly threatened him saying that his son would be remanded for 14 days as he went outside during the curfew.
He also said that the officers allowed him to take his son home after he admitted that the fault was on their side by letting his son out of the house.
He said that Thariq was admitted to the Nagoda Hospital for treatment on May 27.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)