Serious allegations of police brutality and mistaken identity have emerged against the Borella Police, involving Lahiru Madushanka, a small-scale restaurant owner from Deraniyagama.

Madushanka claims he was subjected to severe torture after being wrongly identified as a suspect in a recent shooting in Kohuwala that left a 16-year-old girl injured, Ada Derana reported.

The victim had travelled to Colombo on business when police arrived at his wife’s residence in Baseline, Borella. Although he reportedly cooperated and went to the station voluntarily, he alleges he was met with extreme violence once officers compared his appearance to a hand-drawn sketch of the shooting suspect.

According to Madushanka, the assault began immediately after he was identified as “the man” in the police sketch.

“They started hitting me repeatedly. They pulled my beard and struck my ears so hard it was unbearable. When I closed my eyes, they kept pulling at me. I had a wound on my leg, and an officer placed his boot on the injury and pressed down, shouting, ‘Tell the truth!’ I begged them to stop and pleaded for mercy. They accused me of being a shooter and interrogated me about people found in my phone contacts.”

Madushanka was released on police bail after two days in custody. He expressed deep disappointment regarding the incident, noting that while the public hoped for systemic reform under the new government, “thug-like” behaviour within the police force remains a reality.

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Borella Police has officially denied the allegations. The OIC stated that the youth was only detained for a routine investigation and was released after his information was verified. (Courtesy: Ada Derana Midday Prime News Bulletin)