Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon has removed Acting Director of Police Legal Division due to the latter’s failure to represent the IGP in the Prageeth Ekneligoda case.

The Court of Appeal on September 29 issued notice on seven persons, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to appear before court on October 9 considering four habeas copus petitions filed by the wives of four army officers who are currently detained by the CID in connection with the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

The court directed the notice be re issued on them returnable on Octomber 16 as the IGP failed to appear in court. The court also asked to show cause as to why they were not present in court despite being noticed on September 29.

According to Police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera a full scale investigation was initiated into direliction of duty by the officials of the Police Legal Division. The spokesman said ; since the IGP was on a visit abroad on October 09 the officers in charge of the Police Legal Division had failed to act on behalf of IGP and that was the reason the court had reissued summons to appear in court again, the Police spokesman in a media communiquie said.

Police Media Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara referring to the news item which said the Appeal Court issued summons on the IGP to appear in Court, said the IGP had to appear in Court on October 16 because the Legal Division of the Police Department had failed in its duties when the earlier summons was received on October 9.