Court fines eight over destruction of public property

A resident of Welipotha Yaya, Panamura, who was arrested following a complaint lodged by his wife over a family dispute, had reportedly hung himself inside the police cell

Eight persons were arrested yesterday for causing damages to public properties during a protest held following the death of a man inside the cell at the Panamura Police Station.

A 38-year-old, a resident of Welipotha Yaya, Panamura, who was arrested following a complaint lodged by his wife over a family dispute, had reportedly hung himself inside the police cell.

However, residents of the area converged outside the Panamura police station alleging that the man had been beaten to death by police.

They staged a protest blocking Panamure Junction, Embilipitiya, Kolonna, Middeniya and Ranchamadala main road on November 17 after the man arrested by the Panamura Police was found hanging inside the police cell.

The police launched an investigation into the incident and had arrested 8 suspects after the facts were submitted to the Embilipitiya Magistrate's Court.

The suspects, aged between 21 and 53 were produced in court and granted bail of Rs.10,000 and surety for Rs.200,000 each.