Attack on HNDA protesters:

Police takes responsibility, Commission to initiate action

by Ranil Wijayapala

The National Police Commission (NPC) probing the Police assault on the November 29 protest by Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNSA) student will make a preliminary set of recommendations next week, N. Ariyadasa Secretary to the National Police Commission told the Sunday Observer.

"The aim of this is to improve the relationship between the Police and the general public in the event of such protest and incidents," the Secretary added. The recommendations will be made in addition to the investigations by the Commission meant to assertain whether the police had breached the law when dispersing the student protest. "Disciplinary action will be taken by the Police Commission if the claims against the officers are proved to be true." he added.

The Committee appointed by the Police Commission to inquire into the incident will record statements from the Police on Monday (9) and Tuesday (10). The committee has recorded statements from three students who met officials of the Higher Education and the Public Administration Ministry. The Secretary added that witnesses to the incident are welcome to make statements to the Police Commission on Monday and Tuesday from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

The Human Rights Commission recorded statement from the students and the Police officers of which the reports indicate that the Police had accepted the responsibility for the incident.

Colombo DIG Gamini Mathurata while giving a statement to the Human Rights Commission has accepted that the Police did not receive any order from the government to disperse the students.