Eight cops in dock over teen custody death

SRI LANKA: Eight policemen including a sub-inspector attached to the Kandeketiya police were interdicted following the death of a teenager in police custody.

The victim and four others were taken into custody for alleged treasure hunting in the Ketawatte forest reserve in Meegahakivula, Kandeketiya.

 The deceased was Sandun Malinga (18) of Ketawatte. The police personnel were produced before the Badulla Magistrate and remanded. They include a sub inspector, four constables, police assistants and a civil defence force member.

According to reports, the Kandaketiya police had arrested five suspects including the victim identified as Sandun Malinga over a crime and were placed in the police station cell.

However, Sandun Malinga died while in police custody. A post-mortem was conducted and it was found that the youth may have died from assault wounds following his arrest.

The seven suspects involved were taken into custody and remanded.

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