Several police officers and four young men were hospitalised after a drug raid in Deraniyagala descended into a violent confrontation on Friday, with both sides offering sharply different accounts of what happened.
Officers from the Avissawella Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau went to a house on Noori Road, Deraniyagala, following an anonymous complaint that drug trafficking was taking place at the residence, Ada Derana reported. Four young men at the house were initially arrested on suspicion of possessing narcotics, but they denied having any drugs and accused the officers of assaulting them, according to the same account.
A group of youths then allegedly threatened an officer in civilian clothing, demanding the release of two of those detained. After the officer removed handcuffs from one of the suspects, the group reportedly chased and assaulted him. One of the youths is alleged to have claimed that an officer’s wallet contained “Ice” — crystal methamphetamine — an allegation police have not accepted. The initially detained men were released at the scene, the wallet was handed over to Deraniyagala Police for separate inquiry, and the four youths were later admitted to Deraniyagala Hospital and re-arrested in connection with the suspected drug trafficking, Ada Derana said.
NewsFirst reported that four suspects had been arrested after allegedly assaulting officers during the raid, which it placed in the Hambanagala area of Deraniyagala. It said the situation escalated as people at the house behaved aggressively and obstructed officers, and that three police officers were admitted to hospital for treatment. Ada Derana put the number of injured officers at four, all taken to Avissawella Hospital.
The Police Media Spokesman’s Office said the suspects involved in the assault were receiving treatment in police custody, and that a special investigation has been launched into the incident.
Update — June 20: Minister Wijepala orders special probe
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said on Saturday that a special investigation has been formally launched into the attack on police officers during the raid, NewsFirst reported. A Police Special Investigation Unit has been appointed and “a comprehensive investigation will be conducted regarding the conduct of both the police and the local residents during the incident,” the minister said.
The four police officers injured in the assault — all attached to the Avissawella police division Anti-Corruption Unit — are receiving treatment at Avissawella Hospital. The four arrested suspects, who also sustained injuries, are receiving treatment at Deraniyagala Hospital under police protection and were scheduled to be produced before the Avissawella Magistrate’s Court on Sunday.
Update — June 21: Suspects remanded until July 3
The four suspects were produced before the Avissawella Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, June 20, after being treated at Avissawella Hospital, and were ordered remanded until July 3, Newswire reported, citing the Police Media Division. Ada Derana subsequently confirmed the remand, putting the charges as being members of an unlawful assembly, assaulting and injuring four police officers, obstructing official duties, and possessing “Ice.” The four had been produced before the magistrate while still receiving treatment. Deraniyagala Police are continuing investigations.
Sources: Cops and suspects clash during drug raid; several hospitalised in Deraniyagala — Ada Derana, June 19; Police Injured in Raid Gone Wrong, Suspects Arrested — NewsFirst, June 19; Special Probe Launched Over Attack On Police Raid In Deraniyagala — NewsFirst, June 20; 4 remanded over attack on Police officers in Deraniyagala — Newswire, June 21; Four remanded after cops and suspects clash during drug raid in Deraniyagala — Ada Derana, June 21.
