IGP orders action against police officer after civilian attack goes viral

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has instructed DIG in charge of the Sabaragamuwa Division to immediately conduct an investigation after a video of a police officer assaulting a person on the side of the road in Kegalle went viral on social media.

Police said the incident took place on Thursday  evening at Nidahas Mawatha in Kegalle.

It was revealed that the victim was a drug addict who allegedly assaulted a woman with an iron bar while being intoxicated at the time. The injured woman has been admitted to the Kegalle Hospital and is currently receiving treatment, police said.

According to the police officer, the police officer tried to approach the suspect to arrest him over indecent behavior and being under the influence of alcohol at the time. The officer had to control the suspect as he tried to assault the police officer, police said.

Investigations after his arrest also revealed that the arrested suspect had assaulted a woman who had come to a shop in the city shortly before the incident.

They said the suspect was arrested on several previous occasions and was out on bail.  Also, a case is pending in the court against him on charges of assault and murder of a suspect in prison.

However, police said that even when controlling a criminal, a police officer cannot overreact.

Accordingly, the IGP has instructed to take disciplinary action against the officer and other relevant officers involved, as they have been found to be unnecessarily assaulting and abusing their powers.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)