See the video: How did this innocent man die? වීඩියෝ පටයේ සාක්ෂි: මේ අහිංසකයා මිය ගියේ කෙසේද?

Daily Mirror reports:

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has begun an investigation over an incident where a man was “forced” to drown in Bambalapitiya this morning in front of several onlookers.

Police spokesman senior DIG Nimal Madiwaka said that the victim was believed to be mentally retarded and used to throw stones towards trains and vehicles passing by.

Earlier today the victim had reportedly thrown stones towards the Bambalapitiya police before jumping into the sea and drowning, the police spokesman quoted the Bambalapitiya police as saying.

However shocking television footage taken by a cameraman from his television office showed men attempting to beat the victim using sticks and preventing him from coming ashore resulting in his death by drowning.

The police spokesman said that with the airing of the footage the CCD was asked to take over the probe on the incident. The probe will include possible police involvement in the incident. Navy divers meanwhile are looking for the body of the victim, the police spokesman added.