Traffic cop interdicted for assaulting youth in East

by Norman Palihawadane

A policeman, attached to the Eravur Police, has been interdicted for assaulting two motorcyclists in Batticaloa. The incident was captured on video, which later went viral on social media.

In the video, initially shared on twitter by TNA Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, the policeman is seen kicking one person and slapping another.

The incident took place on Friday after the motorcycle rider had failed to stop when ordered to do so by the Police.

Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekara later ordered the policeman to be interdicted.

MP Rasamanickam posted a screenshot yesterday of a text message sent to him by Minister Weerasekara.

In the text message, Minister Weerasekara says the policeman had been measuring a place where an accident had taken place.

The Minister condemned the incident and ordered action to be taken against him. The Minister further requested the public not to attempt to give a racist twist to the incident.

The motorcycle had ridden past the policeman, dragging the measuring tape. The policeman gave chase and stopped the motorcycle and assaulted the rider and the pillion rider.

Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the policeman and his partner had been measuring an accident scene and all vehicles had stopped to allow the police officers to carry out their duty.  However, the two youth on the motorcycle had attempted to cross the accident scene prompting one of the officers to chase the youths and assault them. The police took swift action to arrest the policeman involved in the incident. He was produced before the Eravur Magistrate’s Court Saturday and released on Rs. 100,000 bail.