Lawyers Condemn Police Assault On Unarmed Civilian At Kahatagasdigiliya
September 25, 2015
The Lawyers for Democracy has today condemned the attack on an unarmed disabled person by two police officers at Kahatagasdigiliya.
Lal Wijenayake – Convener of the Lawyers for Democracy
“The attack as shown in almost all television channels is a disgrace to the police force. Specially at a time when after 8th January there is a determined effort to see that there is no interference in the functions of the police and that the police is allowed to act independently without any political or other interference.” said Lal Wijenayake, the Convener of the Lawyers for Democracy.
He said; “The attack itself was bad enough but the statement by the official spokesman to the police has made it worse. He tried ashamedly to defend the attack on the basis that the victim was riding a motor cycle after consuming liquor and that he was a person convicted of several offences and that many more cases were pending against him. This statement from a senior police officer and the spokesman for the police shows the ignorance of the police regarding their powers and duties. It is accepted in every civilized country that minimum force that is necessary to arrest a person should be used and it is not the duty of an arresting officer to punish the offender. It is his duty to bring the offender before court to be dealt with under law. This principle is laid down in the ‘International Convention on Use of Force and Firearms by law enforcement officials.’
“The behavior of the police and the reasons given by him defense of the action shows the necessity to educate and train police officers on the principles that should govern them in performing their duties.”
