The National Child Protection Authority has launched a separate investigation into an incident where grade 5 students from a school in Millaniya were brutally beaten for allegedly stealing money from a school teacher.
Several Grade Five students from the Millaniya Primary School in Horana were accused of stealing money from the bag of a school teacher and were punished by the school teachers, and the teachers themselves handed over the students to the local police.
Parents allege that students were taken away by police intimidated by electric shock treatment inside the Police Jeep, and dropped back at the school.
Two boys told News 1st that the police officers took them away in a jeep and threatened them with electric shocks to reveal the truth, and thereafter dropped them back at school.
News 1st contacted the Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority Udaya Kumara over these allegations he said the local Judicial Medical Officer confirmed the boys were tortured.
“Based on the facts, the National Child Protection Authority has considered this a serious offence. Any wrong committed by a child below the age of 12, according to Sri Lankan law, cannot be considered a crime,” he said.
The NCPA Chairman also told News 1st that on Tuesday (8) the police officers in question, the principal and the teachers have been summoned to the National Child Protection Authority to record their statements.
“We will also produce them in court on Tuesday (8). These children were given an electric shock treatment inside the Police Jeep, and the vehicle was also seized by the NCPA as evidence. This evidence will be used to prove the claims in the case,” he added.
Sri Lanka Police said that an investigation was launched over the incident, and Police Spokesperson SSP & Attorney Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that the inquiry is led by an ASP for the Panadura Range.
(newsfirst)
