Tense situation at Panamure Police station after man dies inside cell

• Police said the suspect was found hanging in the cell using his shirt
• Residents of the area converged outside the Panamure police station last morning and alleged that the man had been beaten to death by police
• Two policemen interdicted over the incident

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   
A tense situation prevailed after a group of residents surrounded the Panamure police station yesterday following the death of a man inside a cell.  

A 38-year-old father of three, a resident of Welipotha Yaya, Panamura, who was arrested on Tuesday night following a complaint lodged by his wife over a family dispute, has reportedly hanged himself inside the police cell.  
However, residents of the area converged outside the Panamura police station last morning and alleged that the man had been beaten to death by police.  
Police said the suspect was found hanging in the cell using his shirt. The police later admitted the suspect to the Embilipitiya Hospital. However, he was found dead on admission.  
Police said the suspect had also assaulted his daughter on November 12 where she was later admitted to the hospital for treatment.  
Due to the protest by residents yesterday, traffic movement on the Kolonna - Embilipitiya road had also been disrupted.  
Meanwhile it was reported that two policemen have been interdicted over the incident.   
Investigations revealed that deceased suspect is said to be an alcoholic.  
Police said investigations have not revealed that the suspect was assaulted by the police and are investigating whether the officers who were on night duty at the police station at the time of the suspect’s detention had committed any negligence of duty.   
The Embilipitiya Divisional Crime Investigation Division is conducting investigations on the instructions of the Senior DIG in charge of the Sabaragamuwa Province.  
A group of members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya also engaged in a protest in Parliament yesterday against this incident.    

• Investigations have not revealed that the suspect was assaulted by the police
• Police said the suspect had also assaulted his daughter on November 12 where she was later admitted to the hospital for treatment

The man had attempted to commit suicide and had died on the way to hospital

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Refuting claims made by the SJB that the man from Panamure Indika Jayaratne had been assaulted to death by the police, the Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera said the man had tried to commit suicide and had died while on the way to hospital.   

“The man has been a drug addict and had been accused of assaulting his daughter. His daughter had lodged a complaint with the police against him. The police had arrested the wanted man at 10.30pm on Tuesday night. He had tried to hang himself but a policeman had prevented him. He had died while he was being taken to hospital. There is no connection between his death and the police,” the Minister said.“ The SJB MPs are uttering blatant lies,” he added.   

SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said the remarks made by the Minister are unacceptable as the authorities are responsible if a person dies while in custody.