Dompe police attacked

[lkdood]

Villagers set fire to vehicles, motorcycles and part of a police station on the outskirts of Colombo Friday, in protest at the death of a suspect in custody, officials said.

More than 2,000 people stormed the police station in Dompe, 30 kilometres east of the capital, in the early hours of Friday, causing the police to withdraw.

The villagers set fire to at least 16 police vehicles, record books, furniture and part of the building before reinforcements were sent in to retake control of the station.

The burglary suspect died while being driven to recover some of the items he was reported to have stolen.

Police claimed that the suspect jumped off the vehicle, but others claim he was shot dead and pushed out.

DPA

 

[lkdood]

The vehicles included 10 motorcycles, two jeeps, two cars and two cabs.

Our reporters on the spot reported that furniture, record books and other material inside the police station were completely destroyed, while there had also been attempts to torch the building.

ST

 

[lkdood]

A hartal has been called in Dompe town and its surroundings to protest over the death of a man in police custody, reports from the area said.

Our correspondents reported that all shops and business establishments, both state and private had put up shutters as tension mounted in the area.


The situation at Dompe was fast returning to normal after a morning of high tension as enraged residents attacked the local police station following the death of a young main in custody.

Dozens of heavily armed soldiers and commandos from the elite Special Task Force (STF) poured into the town and later secured the Dompe police station that had fallen into the hands of the protesters.

ST