A Sri Lankan court today granted bail to 58 people arrested in connection with the attack on Kataragama police station and released on bail.
During an agitation held by residents of Kataragama from morning to noon yesterday (21) the police arrested 13 women and 45 men for blocking the road, damaging the road, assaulting and injuring police officers, interfering with the duties of the police officers.
An unruly mob attacked the Kataragama police station hurling stones after a night patrol policeman shot and killed a motorcyclist on Saturday night after the deceased did not heed the police orders to stop at a security checkpoint.
Twenty police officers suffered minor injuries as a result of the stone attack, and several properties were damaged, Kataragama Police said.
The angry residents staged a protest next day blocking the blocking the main Tissa-Kataragama road with burning tires.
The Special Task Force (STF) Police and the anti-riot squad were deployed to provide security for Kataragama police and maintain law and order after tensions flared up.
The suspects were produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate Court today and the court released them on a personal bail of Rs. 200,000 each subjecting to strict bail conditions.
The court ordered the suspects to appear in Kataragama Police station on the last Sunday of every month from the 28th and sign their presence. The court also warned that they will be remanded if they behaved in an unruly manner again.
The court has also told suspects not to engage in agitations until the funeral of the deceased is completed.
