Cop seen assaulting lorry driver over accident, heavily condemned

An investigation into a video which circulated on social media earlier today, which showed a police officer mercilessly  assaulting a civilian, has received wide spread condemnation on social media while police have launched an immediate investigation. 

Investigations revealed that the officer had assaulted the civilian, who was a lorry driver after an accident in Pannipitiya this morning.

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that the incident had taken place when the lorry crashed into the Traffic OIC of the Maharagama Police.

The OIC had been admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. 

The police constable who had assaulted the driver was present with the OIC during the accident. 

The Police Spokesman said that thought the lorry driver was at fault with his reckless driving, the police officer did not have any right to assault the driver in this manner.

"Therefore, we have initiated an investigation into this and we will take disciplinary action against the police constable," DIG Rohana said. 

DIG Rohana added that the Nugegoda Division SSP had initiated a special investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera instructed to suspend the constable assaulting the driver .(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya )