Fasting to get General released forbidden: Fasting Bhikkus baton charged by Police
(Lanka-e-news 05.April.2010 11.45PM) The group of Bhikkus who commenced a fast from the 3rd to secure the release of Gen. Fonseka who is detained at the Navy Headquarters were dispersed by the Police this afternoon (5).
By the use of the Police Force the place where the Bhikkus were staging the fast was cleared and the hut in which they were, was also destroyed.
On the first day of the fast , the Police had arrived on the scene and had removed the roof of the stage alleging that it was obstructing the traffic. The Police said they did that with the permission received from the Courts.
At many places where the protests were staged by the public in the recent past , the Police had attacked them.
Police station OIC has not cited reasons for taking the Bhikkhus into custody: OIC summoned to Court on 29th
(Lanka-e-News, April 7, 2010, 7.45PM) The Colombo Additional Magistrate Ravindra Premaratne odered the Slave Island police OIC to appear in Court on the 29th, for not adducing reasons as to why the Bhikkhus who staged a fast unto death opposite the Fort Railway station were arrested.
The Magistrate made this order yesterday (6) as no police officer of the Slave Island police was present in Court when the case was taken upto show cause as to why the Bhikkhus were arrested.
12 Bhikkhus who fasted for release of General granted bail
(Lanka-e-News, April 7, 2010, 9.25AM) The Bhikkhus who were arrested and produced before the Magistrate Court 3, yesterday (6) when they staged a strong protest in front of the Fort Railway station demanding the release of Gen. Fonseka, were released on bail. Four monks who were fasting and 12 others were granted bail.
The monks who were arrested by the Police on the 5th when they were engaged in the fast and produced before the Magistrate in the night were ordered to be brought to Courts on the 6th. They were then released on bail on the 6th.
The police told Courts that the Bhikkhus who were demonstrating in front of the Railway station were obstructing the public under S 98 01 of the Public nuisance Act, and S 79 2 of the Police ordinance, and were therefore arrested.
The Attorney at Law Gunaratne Wanninayake appearing for the Bhikkhus, asked the police where the Bhikkhus were taken in a bus by the police from Slave Island in civvies, when the monks were protesting in Fort coming under the purview of the Fort police?
Further hearing was put off to 23 April.
Attorneys at law Manjula Pathiraja, Namal Rajapakse and Bandara Ekanayake appeared in defense of the Bhikkhus.
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