A video clip has been released in social media showing a police officer using ‘strong’ language at an elderly woman in Jaffna during protests against the rape and murder of a 17 year-old schoolgirl.

The police officer asks the elderly woman, who is among a small group of protesters to leave without creating unnecessary issues.

The woman replies that she is protesting against the crime for which nine men have been accused.

“Who’s men are they?” the policeman asks, to which the woman replies “who else, but our men.”

The officer then replies “thamuselage pirimi hadaaganna ona thamusela” (You should make sure that your men behave). Otherwise, other children can also face the same issue, he adds.

He also tells the woman that they [police] will take care of the matter and asks her to leave without taking it further.

When contacted by Asian Mirror, Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that the situation was extremely tense and the officer might have acted strongly due to the circumstances. He said that he will not condone or justify such behavior. However, a final decision cannot be taken without finding out what really happened, Gunasekara said.

When asked if police would investigate the incident if a complaint is filed, Gunasekara said it would.