A silent protest was held in front of the Welikada Police Station in Rajagiriya yesterday at 5PM  against the brutal assault and murder of a young man named Muthuwadige Sathsara Nimesh by the Welikada Police in Rajagiriya.

The protest was organized by civil society organizations and social activists. Nearly a hundred people participated in the protest, displaying banners and placards with slogans.

Arrest the Welikada police thugs immediately! Enforce the law against the police! Let’s put an end to police brutality! Justice for all victims of police violence! Will you be the next police victim or me? The protesters engaged in a silent protest for almost an hour, displaying placards with slogans. The protesters then lit candles and remembered all those killed by the police.

Police say that Nimesh had broken into a house in Sri Rathna Jothi Mawatha and was behaving in a disorderly manner. After the owner of the house informed the police emergency call unit, two officers from the Welikada Police arrived at around 9.30 pm and arrested Nimesh and took him to the police station. After being taken to the police station, Nimesh behaved violently and strongly struck his body to the wall and on the ground. Later, he was admitted to the Angoda Mental Hospital where he succumbed to death, the police media spokesperson said in a press release.

Welikada police OIC Chinthaka Anuradha has been suspended from work from today in connection with the murder of Nimesh, while a sergeant and a constable have also been suspended for negligence.