Four members of the same family, including two women, have been arrested over the alleged assault of a 16-year-old boy accused of theft in Galle, Police said.
The arrests were made after a video showing the teenager being assaulted circulated on social media, including Facebook.
According to Police, the 16-year-old from Dandeniyakanda, Beralapanathara, had been arrested in connection with a property theft complaint reported to the Galle Police. He was produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court on June 3 and is currently receiving treatment at the Karapitiya Hospital under prison custody.
Police said the boy’s mother lodged a complaint alleging that the teenager had been subjected to an inhuman assault by the same party that had reported the theft. Investigators also relied on the viral video footage during the probe.
The suspects arrested on June 3 are the original complainant, a 40-year-old woman, her 47-year-old husband, their 19-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter, all residents of Milidduwa, Galle.
The four suspects are due to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court today.
Police said further investigations are underway into both the alleged theft and the assault on the teenage suspect. (NewsWire)