The people at Araliya shop who took the law into their own hands, claiming goods were stolen, will get into trouble.

A cruel incident where an elderly mother was inhumanely tortured, taking the law and justice into one's own hands and disgracing humanity, has now drawn the attention of the entire country.

Watthala Acting Magistrate Dinushi Perera ordered the remand of five suspects, including the main suspect, arrested in connection with the incident where a woman's hair was cut and she was assaulted, on charges of stealing goods from a shop named 'Araliya Gift Center' in Ragama, until today (20th).

The victim of this inhumane violence is a 66-year-old mother of four, residing in Kadawatha. After the incident was revealed through sensitive video footage circulated on social media, Ragama Police acted, located the victim, recorded her statement, and then referred her to Ragama Teaching Hospital for medical treatment. She is currently receiving inpatient treatment in Ward 37 of that hospital.

This incident repeatedly emphasizes that no citizen has the right to take the law into their own hands. Mr. Kumar Makewitage, the Sri Lankan Chief Executive Director of an international human rights organization who represented the aggrieved woman, pointed out that such unlawful actions by civil citizens set a very wrong precedent for the entire society. He also emphasized to the police that he would advocate for the woman's human rights until justice is served by the court.

The police, presenting facts before the court, stated that investigations into this incident are not yet concluded and that two more suspects are yet to be arrested. Attorney Sudarshana Wickramaratne, representing the victim, strongly stated his opposition to granting bail to the suspects, as it could even lead to public unrest. However, Attorney Sugath Thalwattegedara, representing the suspects, expressed regret over the incident, stating that the primary cause of the incident was a theft and that efforts are being made to settle it, thus requesting bail under any conditions. Paying attention to this, the Magistrate remanded the defendants. Among those arrested are the 27-year-old main female suspect, a resident of Ragama, and four young men aged between 20 and 23 from Rajanganaya, Kadawatha, Ragama, and Chinawatte areas.

This tragic incident reminds the entire society that attempting to punish a wrong with another wrong ultimately turns the punisher into a criminal before the law.

Watch the video related to this incident ›