2nd lead:

Protest against Thaalvupaadu Police sexual assault

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2005, 07:12 GMT]
Hundreds of protestors carrying placards stood near Mannar courts Monday demanding stern action against a Sri Lanka Police constable accused of sexually assaulting and grievously wounding a schoolboy in Thaalvupaadu, a coastal village five kilometres from Mannar town. The accused Policeman was produced in court Monday for an identification parade.

The assaulted Thaalvupaadu student showed constable J.A.S Pushpakumara as the person who had sexually assaulted him on 10 February during the identifcation parade at Mannar courts.

Following the identification, Mannar District judge Mr. N. M. M Abdullah remanded the constable until 28 February.

The accused constable is jailed in Anurudhapura.

The protest against the Police atrocity was organised by several civil society groups in Mannar, including Mannar Citizen's Committee and Movement for Peace and Justice.