A youth has been taken into custody for attempting to set fire to the fuel bowser during the escalation of tense situation in Rambukkana during a protest staged on Tuesday (April 19).

The arrestee is reportedly a 27-year-old.

The arrest was made by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last night.

On April 19, the residents in the area, who were on protest demanding fuel to be supplied at old prices, had blocked all entry and exit roads into Rambukkana town, as well as the level crossing for more than 15 hours. This had obstructed the vehicular movement and train operations on the Main Line.

As a tense situation ensued near the level crossing, the police had fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. Later, as the situation escalated, the police opened fire at them, killing one person. It was confirmed that the victim had died of gunshot wounds.

When the case pertaining to the incident was taken up at Kegalle Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in charge of Kegalle divulged that he gave orders to open fire below the knees of protesters who attempted to set fire to a fuel bowser during the tense situation.

According to him, he had first ordered police personnel to fire in the air when the protesters tried to set fire to a filling station, and later to shoot below the knee to prevent major damage after the protesters attempted to set fire to a fuel bowser.

Following the incident, the Inspector-General of Police directed the CID to conduct an impartial, comprehensive probe into the incident. The CID thereby took over the investigations pursuant to Article 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.