Police in civil caught filming protest in Batticaloa

April 29, 2022 at 2:56 PM

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam today slammed the Police Department for collecting video footage through officers clad in civil attire of a protest that was staged seeking justice for murdered journalists in Batticaloa. 

The Batticaloa District Parliamentarian was engaged in a protest seeking justice for journalists who have been killed in the area, while Police officers in civil attire were spotted among other journalists recording footage of the protest.

He questioned why the officers were not in uniform and for what reason they were filming the protest. 

“We are here calling for justice for all the journalists from Batticaloa who have been killed. People who are not part of the media are filming the protest. Why are you doing so? Is it to kill the remaining journalists?” he questioned. 

Pointing out that people in Colombo were also protesting seeking justice for journalists who have been killed, he questioned the Police officers if those protests are also being filmed.

He chastised a Police officer who was found filming the protest, stating that he should have reported while in uniform and not hidden among other journalists to cover the protest. 

MP Shanakiyan warned the Police officer not to create one law for Colombo and another for Batticaloa.

Meanwhile, the Kaluwanchikudy Magistrate has amended the court order that was issued yesterday prohibiting MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam from participating in any protests for a period of two weeks. 

TNA MP and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, who represented the MP in court today, said an application was filed on the matter and the court was informed that the order had been issued on false information provided to the Police. 

He said the court had not completely vacated the order and had only slightly amended it, adding that the matter will be taken to the High Court. (NewsWire)