Police have arrested seven suspects over an assault that was circulated on social media showing a man being attacked with a shovel, authorities said Wednesday.
The Police Media Division said an investigation was launched after a complaint was lodged at the Welikada Police Station on Feb. 9, following the circulation of the video online.
According to police, the victim later filed a complaint and investigations revealed that the incident had occurred about two months ago.
Five suspects were arrested on the night of Feb. 10 in separate operations carried out in Kolonnawa, Borella and Wattala. Two additional suspects surrendered to Welikada Police on the morning of Feb. 11 and were taken into custody.
The suspects are aged between 15 and 24 and are residents of Rajagiriya, Borella, Kolonnawa and Wattala, police said.
The suspects were produced before the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court No. 04 on Feb. 11. The court ordered that two of the suspects be detained at the Makola Juvenile Detention Center for an identification parade scheduled for Feb. 16, while the remaining suspects were remanded in custody.
Further investigations are being conducted by Welikada Police. (Newswire)