Investigation launched into assault by Mirigama police officers

COLOMBO (News1st): An investigation has been launched into allegations of assault carried out by police officers during an arrest in Mirihana. "We have shifted the investigation from the Mirihana police to a senior superintendent in the Mount Lavinia police," police spokesman Ajith Rohana said. A youth who claimed to have been assaulted by the police revealed the manner in which he had been assaulted at the Mirigama police station. "Eight of us were put inside a room in the police station and were assaulted by around 15 persons," the youth said during a media briefing on Thursday. He claimed that the officer in charge of the crimes branch at the Mirihana police had treated to kill the youth. Brig. Ilman Silva, a former army health services director, said that he had been dragged by the neck while speaking to his son. "He (an officer) dragged me by my neck and pushed me outside," Silva noted.