The service of the Grama Niladhari involved in assaulting a 13-year-old child in Kotawehera, Nikaweratiya was suspended yesterday.
According to sources, the decision was taken by the Minister of Public Administration Janaka Bandara Tennekoon following the Grama Niladhari’s arrest by the Police in connection to the incident. The Grama Niladhari, and two other suspects, including an expectant mother was arrested by the Kotawehera Police on Friday on the instructions of the Nikaweratiya Division SSP for assaulting a minor. The child was later admitted for treatment to the Nikaweratiya Base Hospital.
The trio was produced before the Nikaweratiya Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They were later remanded till January 16 on the orders of the Magistrate. The Police said initial investigations revealed that the father of the child had also assaulted her on several occasions previously.
The incident where the 13-year-old girl was brutally assaulted by two of the suspects had taken place on December 31. According to Police sources, the Grama Niladhari and her sister, the stepmother of the child had carried out the attack.
In the disturbing video, the two women were seen beating the tied-up child with a cricket bat, while the Grama Niladhari is also seen kicking the girl repeatedly. The two women and the father of the child were arrested by the Police after the video of the attack was widely shared on social media.