Police carry Jaffna district MP away from protest site

Jaffna district All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) Parliamentarian S. Kajendran, was among the dozens of protesters who staged a protest against a Buddhist shrine, allegedly built on a private land at Palaly in Jaffna on Thursday.

Palaly Police tried to remove the protesters from the sit-in protest, but when they refused, nine were arrested, barring the MP. When they tried to arrest him, a directive came from the senior brass of Police on the implications of arresting a Parliamentarian under the Provisions of the Parliamentary Privileges Act.

Police officers were helpless on how to remove him from the spot. Finally, they had enough of it and four officers came and lifted the MP and put him in a nearby land covered with bushes, located a few hundred metres away from the protest site. The arrested individuals were released on bail after being produced before Jaffna Magistrate’s Court.

After the footage of how the MP was manhandled by Police officers came to public attention, the court called for a report from the Police on the conduct of Police personnel at the scene.

Meanwhile, even after being dropped off by the Police in a different location, the MP continued his protest till early morning the next day.