Courtesy Hiru News

Hingurakgoda Police reported the arrest of a National People’s Power (NPP) Councilor of the Hingurakgoda Pradeshiya Sabha for allegedly attempting to release a suspect.

Police stated that the arrested Councilor attempted to release his brother and another person from lawful custody and behaved in a riotous manner inside the police station, obstructing the duties of the police officers on duty.

The arrested individual is K. W. S. S. Udayakumara (44), the NPP Councilor for the Hingurakgoda Pradeshiya Sabha, residing in Yatiyalpathana South, Hingurakgoda.

The Councilor’s brother had been previously arrested by the police for obstructing the duties and using criminal force against two CEB employees. The charge against the brother involved threatening two CEB employees who came to disconnect the power at his residence due to non-payment of bills, obstructing their duties, and causing property damage by assaulting the motorcycle the officers arrived on.

While the suspect was held in the police cell, the Councilor went to check on his well-being. Police reported that the Councilor behaved violently, verbally abused, and threatened a Police Sergeant and a Police Constable who were on duty.

Hingurakgoda Police stated that the Councilor was arrested following a complaint lodged by the two CEB employees. It was also reported that the Councilor snatched the mobile phone of a police officer who was on duty.

The arrested Councilor was subsequently produced before the Hingurakgoda Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for the offense of attempting to release a suspect from lawful custody. Police stated that the JMO report confirmed the Councilor had consumed alcohol.

The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Hingurakgoda Magistrate’s Court.