Police baton charged opposition protesters for a second day

Colombo Chief Magistrate blamed Deputy Inspector General of police in charge of Colombo as the person responsible for the escalation of violent clashes outside the Supreme Court premises on Wednesday.

The statement was made by her while granting bail to eight defendents who appeared in court accused of damaging police vehicles.

Colombo chief magistrate Champa Janaki Rajaratne accused the Assistant Superintendent of police (ASP) of Kehelwatte police of trying to hide the true situation of the alleged crime.

falsified evidence

The magistrate also told the Assistant Superintendent, that he should provide falsified evidence to the courts on an incident viewed by the whole country through media.

She also said that even magistrates are part of the public, and the police should not try to deceive the people.

Police officers who are paid by the public should not become political stooges and they will have to face the consequences of such behaviour said the magistrate.

real culprits identified

Speaking to the BBC, the defence lawyer, Ajith Pathirana also blamed the conduct of the police force.

"The police had protected the thugs who assaulted the demonstrators. We produced photographs of the real culprits to the courts. The magistrate asked the police to arrest the assailants who can be identified through these photos." He said.

Thugs

An eyewitness told the BBC that about 50 supporters of President Rajapaksa had confronted opposition supporters and attacked them with stones and bottles.

The opposition rally near the Supreme Court is the second mass demonstration to be held in the capital in the space of a week.