Former Features Editor of the United National Party’s official organ ‘Siyarata’ and former journalist of Lanka e-news Prageeth Ekneligoda was allegedly abducted at Makumbura in the Homagama police area and detained overnight before being released.
Mr. Ekneligoda told the Sunday Times that while he was returning home on Thursday night three unidentified persons grabbed him, handcuffed and blindfolded him and dragged him into a white van.
“I was taken to an abandoned place which appeared to be a torture chamber and was asked to lie down and my handcuffs attached to a device fixed to the floor,” he said.
“On Friday morning a masked man came and unlocked my handcuffs, untied the blindfold and told me to wash my face. Thereafter I was blindfolded again and handcuffed. I was told to wait until the ‘boss’ comes to record a statement,” he said.
“An hour later a person who arrived told me it was a case of mistaken identity, but warned me to keep silent on the issue as otherwise I would face difficult times,” he said.
Mr. Ekneligoda said that later he was taken to an abandoned quarry and left. “I untied the blindfold and inquired from a youth I met where I was. I made my way home after he told me I was in the Kaduwela area,” he added.
He said he lodged a complaint with the Homagama police.
Police said they visited the home of Mr. Ekneligoda after the incident and added investigations were proceeding. |
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