Maid’s death in police custody: Welikada OIC transferred

By Norman Palihawadane

Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Thalduwa yesterday said the OIC of the Welikada Police, Chief Inspector of Police Chinthaka Anuradha, had been transferred to the Police Field Force Headquarters with immediate effect following the death of a woman in police custody.

A 42-year-old mother of three from Badulla, R. Raj Kumar, who worked as a maid in the house of a film producer, died on 11 May while in the custody of the Welikada police following her arrest over the alleged theft of a gold ring.

A sub-inspector, two police sergeants and a police constable have been suspended and another constable and two female police constables transferred over the incident.

The IGP has transferred the Welikada Police OIC as per a recommendation by the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, subject to the approval of the Police Commission.