The Excise Department has informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that while going to arrest a group of drug traffickers in Bambalapitiya, the police obstructed their duty and were unable to apprehend the suspects. Sri Lanka Latest News
The Excise Department had given the notice by submitting a report to the court with the names of 07 police officers who obstructed their duty.
On the afternoon of the 7th, an incident of a group of people coming from a van targeting a car and shooting at Bambalapitiya Marine drive was reported.
Four plainclothes excise officers were arrested by the police in connection with the shooting.
The four excise officers who were produced before the Colombo Magistrate Court were released on 2 personal bails of 10 lakh rupees each.
Meanwhile, the Excise Department submitted a report to the court today showing the progress of the investigations related to the incident.
It said that a group of its officers raided a hotel in Bambalapitiya in order to arrest drug traffickers and based on the information they received, another group was arrested.
The Excise Department stated before the court that the related drug traffickers who were in a car tried to escape but they had to shoot them, but they escaped.
The report submitted by the Excise Department stated that the police officers were unable to arrest the fugitive smugglers while they were investigating to arrest a vehicle and that they were not able to catch them and the police officers were obstructing their duties.
Accordingly, taking into account the report submitted by the Excise Department to the court with the names of 07 police officers, Colombo Additional Magistrate Mr. Manjula Ratnayake directed to take further steps after consulting the Attorney General regarding the incident.