By Madura Ranwala

Rathugala Vedda community leader, Suda Wannile Attho, his wife and his sister-in-law’s 11-year-old son are being treated at the Bibile hospital after being assaulted allegedly a group of policemen attached to the Ratmalgaha Ella police post of the Inginiyagala police station in the Ampara police division on Wednesday night.A policeman, too, is being treated for injuries he sustained at the hands of a group of Veddas.

Police said the incident had taken place when a team of policemen, acting on a tip-off that some people were gambling at the Vedda leader’s house, raiding the place.

Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that the clash between the police and the Veddas would be probed under the supervision of the Ampara Division (1) Senior Superintendent.

The police personnel attached to the Ratmalgaha Ella police station had been transferred out with immediate effect until the investigations were over, he said.

Vedda leader, Suda, being treated at the Bibile hospital told media that he had been attacked by a team of men in civvies, who arrived at his house on motorcycles around 9.45 p.m. He was assaulted with a chair. “We came to know that they were from the police only when they identified themselves as policemen.”

The Vedda leader said the policemen had attacked them while they were celebrating his granddaughter’s birthday.

Courtesy:The Island