Concerns over transfer of police officers amidst Bathidueen's release

COLOMBO (News1st): Transferring police officers while releasing suspects involved in last year's April 21st attacks will not assist the probe into the bombings, two movements have warned. Controversy has arisen over the release of Riyaj Bathiudeen, the brother of parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, who was arrested over last year's bombings, citing insufficient evidence. "We heard that they are going to launch an investigation into this after sending the relevant documents to the Attorney General," Ven. Medille Pagngnaloka Thero, of the Sinhale Organization said. The Sinhale Organization and the People's Justice Centre visited the national police commission on Monday to inquire into the progress of their complaint about the release Bathiudeen. The release of the suspect who was under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)'s custody, led to the transfer of police spokesman Jaliya Senaratne and CID chief DIG Nuwan Wedasinghe. "...we are certain that Jaliya Senaratne and Nuwan Wedasinghe are not the perpetrators of the April 21st attacks," Ven. Jamburewala Chandarathana Thero, the chairman of the People's Justice Centre said. He pointed out that the investigations cannot be carried out properly simply by punishing police officers and giving them service transfers.