A group of about 50 persons, who staged a protest and shouted slogans condemning the police, in front of Lindula police station, over th arrest six persons at a police checkpoint , dispersed after senior police officers explained that the arrests were made in the discharge of normal police duties.
Police said five of those arrested had been involved in the assault of a Reserve Police Constable, who was on duty at the checkpoint on Tuesday (28). Police had stopped two three-wheeler taxis at the checkpoint for a routine check and the passengers, who had been under the influence of liqour had become abusive and then turned aggressive. They had assaulted a RPC and the police had found it difficult to bring them under control.
The police said they had no other alternative but to place the group under arrest and among those arrested was asergeant of the Sri Lanka Army, who had also received injuries in the melee .
DIG, Nuwara Eliya District Wimal Ariyaratna said that the arrested persons were handed over to the Lindula police station, while the injured soldier and policeman were admitted to the Nuwara Eliya Hospital.
The group had also damaged a walkie talkie and torn the Entries register maintained at the checkpoint. DIG Ariyaratne said that a full investigation into the incident was being conducted by his office.
