Inspector General of Police CD Wickramaratne claims Police were ordered to fire below the knee at protesters in Rambukkana.
In a special statement to media, the IGP said individuals at a filling station adjacent to the Rambukkana Railway Station commenced a protest around 1am yesterday (19), owing to the fuel shortage.
He said by morning the protesters had blocked the Rambukkana Railway line obstructing train operations.
The IGP said the Rambukkana Police at the time attempted to meet their demands and organised two fuel bowers.
However, he said protesters didn’t allow the first bowser to pass the railway crossing and brought the bowser to a halt across the road, removed the battery of the vehicle and let out the air in the tyres.
The IGP added the protesters took hold of the second bowser as well, and demanded that they be provided fuel at the old CPC fuel prices and allegedly continued to behave in an unruly manner.
IGP Wickramaratne said all trains travelling through Rambukkana were unable to operate, inconveniencing commuters.
He claimed that Police repeatedly advised protesters from morning to disperse, adding that after almost 12-hours, they began rioting and also set a three-wheeler on fire.
The IGP said the group also attempted to set a fuel bowser on fire and continued to disregard Police orders, leading Policemen to initially assault protesters with batons.
IGP Wickramaratne added as protests continued in order to control the situation, tear gas was fired.
He noted that at the time several protesters dispersed, while another group remained at the scene, and they broke up to smaller groups and used stones from the railway line to assault Policemen.
The IGP said they assaulted Policemen who surrounded the bowser from being set on fire, and as the lives of Policemen were in danger, and the bowser being set alight would have led to massive destruction and to both public life and property, minimum force was used to control protesters.
He added Police then fired in the air first and still failed to control the protesters, following which orders were issued to fire below the knee to disperse the protesters.
The IGP said an ASP and 10 Policemen were injured while several protesters also sustained injuries and were hospitalised.
He claimed curfew was imposed in the Rambukkana Police area to maintain law and order, and requested the public to refrain form engaging in violence and to contribute towards upholding law and order.
The IGP said investigations, supervised by the Police Headquarters, will be initiated to determine if Police used extra force.
