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| Sunday, 27 January 2002 |
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Security |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Army-Police
fracas at Kandy: Top level probes under way
by RAMANI KANGARAARACHCHI and JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE The Military Police investigating the army-police clash on Wednesday at Dalada Veediya, Kandy have identified about 60 persons who had allegedly attacked several policemen and caused damage to police vehicles and traffic barriers at the Dalada Veediya. The suspects have also caused damage to a telephone at a nearby police post, sources told the "Sunday Observer". The Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle had ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident and said that stern disciplinary action would be taken against those involved in the fracas. Major General Ivan Dassanayake has been appointed to probe into the incident. The soldiers who were said to be involved in the incident were from the Army Signal School at Pallekele. These soldiers from various regiments had gone to Pallekele to follow a signals training course. Shortly after the incident Army Signals Brigade Commander, Brigadier Sunil Silva was rushed to Kandy from Colombo to make an on the spot inquiry. Military Police Colonel Nirmal Koswatte is now conducting a full-scale probe into the incident under the direction of division 1 Commander, Major General K.B. Egodawela. Meanwhile, the Kandy Range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Nimal Mediwaka, has also ordered a top-level inquiry into the fracas headed by Senior Supdt. of Police (SSP) Gampola, A. Illangasiri and comprising a team of police officers. Besides these investigations, a joint police-army inquiry is also likely to be held. The incident erupted when a sub inspector attached to the Kandy traffic police had ordered a soldier to move away his vehicle from a "no-parking" zone at Dalada Veediya. This led to a heated argument between the two, which culminated in a clash. Shortly after, certain soldiers believed to be from the army signal brigade had rushed to the scene with weapons and joined the brawl. Meanwhile, a police party led by HQI kandy, A. Mahendra had also rushed to the scene with a police party, who were allegedly set upon by soldiers which resulted in HQI Mahendra, five policemen and two soldiers being wounded in the scuffle. The police at one stage had fired in the air to scare the rampaging soldiers. Two police vehicles at the scene were also damaged during the incident. |
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