NPC sorts out simmering issues with IGP

By Jayampathy Jayasinghe

The National Police Commission (NPC) discusses contentious issues affecting the public with the IGP. The meeting between IGP Victor Perera and the Chairman of the NPC, Neville Piyadigama took place at the NPC office last week.

According to Chairman Piyadigama the group of persons who sustained injuries when police batten charged them at Mayurapura have been requested by IGP Victor Perera to lodge a complaint to the Hambantota police or to a senior officer.

The incident happened three weeks ago when a group of persons who gathered to protest over the allocation of land to 450 persons by the Mahaweli Authority, had turned unruly and threatened to kill the Manager of the Mahaweli Authority. When police warned them to disperse the crowd forcibly entered the Mahaweli Authority premises and damaged the main gate and window panes of the office.

According to IGP Victor Perera the Police had used minimum force to safeguard public property and save the lives of Mahaweli Authority staff. Not a single victim of the assault had so far complained to the police and the Police have launched an investigation to find victims of the assault.

Meanwhile the Police Constable who had assaulted a group of pilgrims at Kataragama recently has been interdicted.

Although a Buddhist priest and a media personnel had complained, none of the victims of the assault had officially complained, according to IGP. NPC had also discussed incidents of harassment faced by lawyers when they represent their clients at various police stations.