Ruhuna Uni student activist remanded over assault of policemen

The Secretary of the Ruhuna University Students' Federation was ordered remanded in custody till September 11 by the Matara Magistrate's Court in connection with the alleged assault of two Police Sergeants who were videoing a student protest in front of the Ruhuna University. 

The student was arrested on a tip-off given to police after he arrived at the bank in front of the university. The suspect, Tharaka Sandaruwan, was produced before Matara Chief Magistrate Yuresha De Silva, who ordered him to be remanded till September 11.  

The protest had been held on June 23 to protest against the attack on student demonstrators at the Health Ministry by the police. The two officers, Police Photographer R.. Piyasiri (56) and Indunil Padma Kumara 51) attached to the Police Intelligence Unit were injured in the assault and were admitted to the Matara Hospital for treatment. 

According to police, the police photographer, who was in civvies, had been videoing the protest when students had surrounded him and demanded his media identification card. They had allegedly also stolen his purse and confiscated his police identification card.

In addition, a camera belonging to the Police Department that the policeman was using to video the protest was also confiscated by the students. Police said the camera had later been returned, but the students had kept the camera's battery and memory chip. 

The Sergeant attached to the police intelligence unit had been videoing the assault of the police photographer using his mobile phone when he too, had been allegedly set upon by the students. The students are accused of seizing the mobile phone and returning it after damaging it. They had also allegedly stolen a pair of spectacles worth Rs.5000 belonging to the Sergeant. 

By Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk

 

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