Cop arrested over Thihagoda firearm discharge remanded

The Sub-Inspector, who was arrested in connection with the firearm discharge in which a 15-year-old boy was critically injured, has been remanded until November 04.

The 55-year-old police officer in question, whose services were suspended over the incident, was produced before Matara Magistrate’s Court earlier today.

He was placed under remand custody after admitting to his wrongdoing.

The magistrate instructed the authorities to place the police officer in any prison other than the Matara Galle and Angunakolapelessa prisons.

The incident had taken place at around 4.30 p.m. last evening (Oct. 28) in the area of Middewala, Thihagoda in Matara.

Based on a tip-off, the officer in charge of the crimes division of the Thihagoda Police and two other officers had conducted a raid in a house in the area on suspicion of hosting narcotic activities.

While returning after inspecting the said house, the police officers spotted a three-wheeler being recklessly driven on the road and ordered it to stop immediately.

According to reports, the three-wheeler driver initially heeded the command, however, he had started driving again as the police officers approached.

Police officers had then given a chase to the three-wheeler which later came to a stop while travelling along the Thihagoda-Kandepola road. It was later intercepted by the three police officers who were clad in civilian clothing.

The Sub-Inspector in question, who is also the Officer-in-Charge of the Thihagoda Police crimes division, had drew his weapon to the head of one of the boys who were inside the vehicle and commanded the group of five individuals to get down.

When the teen on whom the gun was drawn was getting down from the three-wheeler, the firearm of the Sub-Inspector was discharged, causing critical injuries to the 15-year-old’s head.

The injured boy, identified as Haresh Hasanka Deshan from Katuwanthuduwa area in Nayimbala, Matara, was rushed to the Matara District General Hospital soon after the incident and later transferred to Teaching Hospital in Karapitiya for further treatment.

 A surgery was performed on the child to treat his head injury and another surgery was performed today to remove the blood clots remaining in his skull.

Hospital sources revealed that the child is in a stable condition at the moment having shown improvement from the time he was hospitalized.

Following the incident, a tense situation ensued as the residents of the area gathered in front of the Thihagoda police station demanding answers from the police. One of them also hurled stones at a police jeep during the tense situation.

Meanwhile, security at the Thihagoda police station was tightened with officers from nearby police officers being deployed there.

Not too long after the group of people made their way to the police station, the tense situation escalated when a young woman who was there claimed she was physically assaulted by a police officer.

DIG in Charge of Southern Province Ajith Rohana also arrived at the Thihagoda police station to help take the situation under control.