Bambalapitiya incident : Police to consult Attorney General

by Jayamapthy JAYASINGHE

The police will consult the Attorney General with regard to the circumstances that led to the death of B. Sivakumar (26), a mentally deranged person of Ratmalana who was drowned at the Bambalapitiya sea when a pole-wielding policemen and others beat him mercilessly preventing him from coming ashore, DIG Anura Senanayake who is overseeing the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) told the "Sunday Observer."

Following the incident, Senior DIG Nimal Mediweka instructed the CCD to investigate the sordid incident. The CCD arrested the suspect policeman attached to the Bambalapitiya Police Station last Thursday. Video footage of the incident shown on most television channels depicted the policeman beating the hapless victim with a pole. The policeman will be produced in court following the magisterial inquiry and post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, DIG Senanayake said they are also considering disciplinary action against the Chief Inspector, an Inspector and a Sub Inspector who were present at the scene for failing to prevent the enraged Constable from beating the victim, who died as a result of drowning. The horrific incident which took place around 11.10 a.m. on Thursday near the Bambalapitiya railway track was witnessed by several persons. The victim was a young man of unsound mind receiving treatment at the Angoda mental hospital. The brother of the deceased identified the victim's body which was washed ashore near the Kollupitiya railway station.