Sexual harassment : Four, including Army personnel, arrested

September 30, 2024 at 3:33 PM

Four suspects, including two military personnel, have been arrested on charges of having sexually harassed women in incidents reported in separate areas.

A 35-year-old Army deserter has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a female journalist in the Maththegoda area. According to the Maththegoda Police, the suspect had been inside a parked three-wheeler and had inappropriately touched the woman while she had walked passed the vehicle. 

He had, however, abandoned the three-wheeler and hidden after the woman had screamed out catching the attention of the people in the area, but had been captured by them. Upon being questioned the suspect had claimed he had run out of fuel and had tried to escape, but was prevented and handed over to the Police. 

Investigations reveal that the man who had initially been deployed at the Killinochchi Army Camp had abandoned the military after applying for three-month leave and had been employed as a three-wheeler driver at a taxi- -rental company. The suspect is due to be produced before the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court. 

Meanwhile, an Army Sergeant has been arrested for having recorded a video of the bare legs of a female university student on a train heading to Polgahawela. 

The Mirigama Police said the woman had been on the train plying from Colombo to Polgahawela when the suspect had arrived on a train travelling in the opposite direction, both stopping at the Mirigama Station. The suspect who was on the footboard of the train had secretly videoed the bare legs of the woman, which had been noticed by fellow passengers who had informed the victim.

The passengers had then captured the man and handed him over to the Mirigama Station Master, after which the Mirigama Police had been informed, during which time the suspect had left his mobile phone and fled. 

Upon inspecting the mobile phone, the Police visited the residence of the suspect, during which the suspect’s wife informed that he had reported for duty at the Pelawatte Army Camp. The camp had been informed after which the suspect was produced before the Mirigama Police during which he was arrested.  The suspect is to be produced for an identification parade at the Attanagalle Magistrate’s Court, while the Mirigama Police is conducting investigations. 

Also, two youths have been arrested for having videoed and shared on social media the bare legs of a female Police officer while on duty at the Chilaw Police Station. 

It is reported that the suspects had reported to the minor offences unit to resolve a case, during which they had videoed the bare legs of the Police Officer who was handling their case. The suspects had been arrested after the female Police Officer had filed a case against them over the incident. (Newswire)