News
Staff of reputed auction house allegedly assault customer
View(s):The Narahenpita police are inquiring into an incident where the manager and staff of a well-known auction house allegedly assaulted a customer as he was taking photos of the goods he had purchased. The incident is reported to have taken place last Sunday afternoon at a branch office of the auction house located at Colombo 5. The victim was admitted to the Kalubowila hospital with a serious ear injury following the assault.
A senior police officer attached to the Narahenpita police station confirmed that a complaint of assault had been lodged. He added police were currently looking through CCTV footage of the establishment. He said police hoped the footage would reveal information which could lead to an arrest. Until Friday no arrests had been made. “The owners who are brothers, were on the spot when the assault occurred,”the victim claimed.
“Whilst I was taking photographs he shoved me and punched me very hard in my face. I have never been subject to physical assault like that,” he said.
It is alleged that the staff who objected to the customer taking photographs, had confronted him and began arguing with him in the shop. They subsequently knocked him unconscious, punched and kicked him and later dragged him to the entrance of the establishment.
The victim, a resident of Kandy, who didn’t wish to reveal his identity said he often visits different auction rooms to purchase items of interest. The victim said he had regularly visited this particular auction house over a period of five years. He emphasised he had purchased the goods he had been photographing, as the auctioneer had refused to release them (goods) until the following day. -(SR)