A retired Officer-in-Charge (OIC) who had served at the same police station for 24 years has reportedly suffered severe eye damage following an alleged attack by officers from the Mahabage Police Station. The incident occurred on the night of July 17 and the victim is currently receiving treatment at Ragama Hospital.
The retired OIC, who retired from service at the age of 46 on March 1, 2023, recounted the events leading up to the attack. Having retired for personal reasons, he had no contact with the police since his retirement. On the night of the incident, he was returning from a private trip at around 1:30 AM when he began to feel very sleepy. Earlier that day, he had performed a blood sugar test which revealed a level of 250, and he suspected this was the cause of his sudden drowsiness.
Choosing to park his vehicle on Gunasekara Mawatha in the Mahabage Police Domain, he decided to rest. While he was asleep in his car, a three-wheeler parked in front of him, and three uniformed policemen approached. They informed him of a 119 complaint regarding his parked vehicle and proceeded to verbally abuse him. Despite his attempts to explain his situation, the officers assaulted him and called for additional reinforcements.
Unwilling to reveal his former status as a police officer, the retired OIC attempted to communicate with the officers, but they continued their assault. He was subsequently taken to the Mahabage Police Station where an officer recognized him and addressed him respectfully. It was only then that the attacking officers realized he was a former police officer. Their behavior immediately changed, and they expressed regret, stating that had they known his identity earlier, the incident would not have occurred.
Despite his request for formal charges to be filed, the police retained his identity card, driver’s license, and two mobile phones. He later retrieved these items but noticed severe pain and swelling in one eye, which led him to seek medical attention at Ragama Hospital. Doctors examined him and admitted him due to the severity of his eye injury.
The retired OIC expressed his concern over the police’s behavior, highlighting that such actions lead to a public-oppressive rather than a public-friendly police force. He recounted his experiences of some officers making false accusations against the public during his service and emphasized the need for police reforms to restore the nobility of the police service. He intends to take legal action against the officers involved in the inhumane attack and notify the relevant authorities.
Attempts to contact the station commander of Mahaba Police Station for a statement were unsuccessful, as an officer reported that the station commander was on special duty for the President’s visit.
