Death of youth in sea:

Produce evidence, electronic media told

Sarath Malalasekera

The Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday directed the electronic media, who had telecast the incident at the Bambalapitiya sea where a youth was assaulted, to produce their edited and unedited video cassettes to Police to telecast them in open court on November 20.

Judge Pilapitiya made this order after lengthy submissions by Police Headquarters DIG Anura Senanayake.

DIG Senanayake said four persons including a PC and a Sub Inspector had been remanded in connection with the incident. The OIC of the station has been transferred to the Vavuniya Police station on the direction of IGP Mahinda Balasuriya.

DIG Senanayake thanked TNL for telecasting the incident which took place in the sea off Bambalapitiya.

He said the youth who drowned had earlier obstructed a train and pelted people in the train with stones. Bambalapitiya police had arrived at the place where the incident took place and had attempted to arrest the youth. Then he had jumped into the sea to avoid arrest.

DIG Senanayake said the police act on that day was very serious and they should be punished.

No one will endorse the police action in assaulting the youth who was a mentally unstable person.