JVP Leader complains of police inaction over violent incident at Rideemaliyadda

By Saman Indrajith

Only thieves and fraudsters would condone the government deploying police and thugs against people protesting against broad-daylight misappropriation of public funds, the JVP said yesterday.

 Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said: “The government is unleashing its evil forces against its political opponents. Many of those who are critical about government follies have been arrested by the CID and detained. The most brutal of these incidents was witnessed on Sunday at Rideemaliyadda. People took to the streets against frauds and waste of public funds. Some of our party members were there with the protesters. A group of thugs, led by Rideemaliyadda Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, assaulted the protesters brutally. Among the thugs were those who had been recently given appointments under the 100,000 jobs project. Our members lodged a complaint with the Rideemaliyadda police, but no action has so far been taken against the PS Chairman who led the assault.

“We call on people to fight against injustice. We will oppose the government action to suppress democratic rights of the people. We are consulting our legal experts to take this campaign to the next level. The next victims would be those who ignore this unjust act. It is only thieves and fraudsters who will condone the use of violence to suppress the voices against frauds and waste of public funds.”

Former Kalutara District JVP MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa also addressed the media.