Two cops interdicted after suspect commits suicide inside jail cell

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police said a Police Sergeant and Constable who were on duty at the Panamura Police Station, where a suspect committed suicide inside a cell, were interdicted pending an inquiry.

Issuing a clarification over the incident, Sri Lanka Police said that a group of officers had arrested the suspects on the 16th of November, based on a complaint filed on the 12th of November, with regard to an assault on a 14-year-old girl.

Sri Lanka Police said the 38-year-old suspect was found hanging inside the cell on Wednesday (17) morning and police officers had rushed him to the Embilipitya Hospital for immediate treatment, however, he was ruled dead upon admission.

Sri Lanka Police added that the wife of the deceased had filed complaints with the police station on seven previous occasions for domestic violence.

Two complaints were filed in 2017, and one was withdrawn while the other was settled by issuing a warning, said Sri Lanka Police.

Two more complaints were filed in 2018, and cases were closed after the suspect was produced in court and given warnings.

Another two complaints were filed in 2020, and one was withdrawn while the other was settled by issuing a warning.

In August 2021, the wife of the deceased filed another complaint and thereafter withdrew the said complaint.

Sri Lanka Police said the suspect is a father of three girls aged, 14, 08, and 13 and on the 12th of November, the eldest daughter had filed a complaint against him for assault.

She was treated at the Embilipitya Hospital from the 12th to the 15th of November, said Sri Lanka Police adding that several attempts were made to arrest him.

Upon receiving information of the suspect's whereabouts, the police visited his house and arrested him on Tuesday (16) night.

Sri Lanka Police said that the suspect was addicted to alcohol and investigations revealed that the suspect was not assaulted.

However, an inquiry is ongoing to determine if there was negligence on the part of the police officers who were on duty last night at the police station.

Sri Lanka Police said the Senior DIG in-Charge of the Sabaragamuwa Province is supervising the investigations led by an ASP directing the Embilipitiya Crimes Investigations Bureau.