Yet another suspect dies in police custody, a witness too

In yet another incident where suspects die while in police custody, a 35-year-old father of three, who was arrested for alleged possession of illegal liquor, has died at the Hambantota General hospital.

A special police team led by ASP T.B. Jayasundara has arrested six cops attached to the Sooriyawewa Police station in connection with the murder incident.

This case has grabbed more attention with a 70-year-old person, who reportedly eye witnessed victim L.A. Samntha was being assaulted by a group of cops, died on Monday (23) afternoon following an accident involving a trishaw and a van. The van driver has been identified as a police Constable of the Ambalantota police, Ada Derana reporter said. 

The van had collided with the trishaw in which five persons were traveling; all are witnesses to the case, along Sooriyawewa-Hambantota road.

J. Jayadasa who sustained life threatening injuries due to the accident has died upon his admission to the Hambantota hospital. The other persons are receiving treatments for minor injuries at the same hospital.

“The van driver has been arrested. An investigation is underway,” an officer of the Tangalle police traffic unit said.

In the meantime, the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) at the Hambantota hospital who performed the post-mortem of the assaulted person has delivered a verdict saying the victim has succumbed to internal injuries he sustained following an assault, Ada Derana reporter added.

Deceased L.A. Samantha was arrested with illegal liquor bottles in Sooriyawewa area on Sunday (22). At first he was admitted to the Sooriyawewa Base hospital, and later transferred to the Hambantota hospital where he died.