A police constable had grabbed the notes of journalists who were taking notes on Embilipitiya civilian’s death, at Embilipitiya Magistrate Court yesterday.

The Police Constable had grabbed the notes of journalists when they were taking notes while the first witness on Embilipitiya incident was testifying.

The incident had taken place when magisterial enquiry to the death of Sumith Prasanna Jayawardena, which occurred in a clash between civilians and police was heard before Embilitpita Additional Magistrate yesterday.

When journalists complained Police spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara, he had said the incident would have happened since journalists were taking notes without court’s permission to do so.

Later the journalists were given few papers but they lost the opportunity to note down the rest of the evidence.

However, journalists had filed complaints with DIG Chandana Wickramaratne regarding the incident.

Police sources say that PC had mentioned a person in higher authority ordered him to do so, when DIG questioned the PC regarding the incident.

PC had also mentioned that few papers were given to journalists after ASP Gunasekara pointed out to court registrar the journalists’ right to record evidence.

Nevertheless, the court had not informed journalists to not to record evidence of the enquiry.