The Deputy Mayor of the Ratnapura Municipal Council has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting and injuring a police officer, the latest in a series of recent clashes between local politicians and law enforcement officials.
The incident had taken place at the Ratnapura bus stand on Friday (26) when the Deputy Mayor had allegedly attacked the policeman over a traffic offence.
The injured police officer, attached to the Ratnapura Police Station, is undergoing treatment at the Ratnapura Hospital, police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardena said.
However, he said, the Deputy Mayor is also hospitalized claiming he was assaulted by the police officer in question.
Ratnapura Police is conducting further investigations into the incident.
The incident comes just days after the Vice Chairman of the Buttala Pradeshiya Sabha and two police officers were hospitalized following a brawl in Okkampitiya Junction, after being stopped for riding a motorbike without a helmet.
A special police team led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) are conducting investigations into that incident.
