“Police Amma” saves a precious little life
Our police service is at the receiving end of public outcries as it is very close to their lives. Sri Lanka Police had become an institution that the public cannot ignore despite their controversial actions.
With more than a hundred thousand officers, it is an institution that had earned the wrath and also plaudits from the general public in their mission in dealing with situations.
There are many who act with feelings despite their Khaki Uniform. This was amply proved on November 4 when woman police officer Shermila Dilrukshi who was on duty at the railway crossing behind the Kandy Police Headquarters located by the Kandy Matale railway line, forgetting her state of pregnancy, hastily prevented a mother of three from pushing her own six-year-old son towards a moving train.
Woman PC Dilrukshi, while on duty, had observed from a distance, a woman dragging a small boy along the railway line. And at the same time, she noticed an approaching train. Dilrukshi suspected that the woman was attempting to push the small boy towards the train. With limited mobility due to her advanced stage of pregnancy, she shouted at the woman not to push the child onto the train. At the same time waving her hand, cautioning the driver of the approaching train to reduce the speed.
The driver who sensed something serious was to happen, halted the train. Dilrukshi with the help of onlookers had been able to apprehend the woman and the team of police officers who arrived later had taken the suspect into custody.
The alertness of police officer Dilrukshi so prevented a tragedy. In the event of the train not stopping several lives would have been lost.
Dilrukshi attached to the administration unit of the Kandy Headquarters Police Station had this to say with regard to this incident.
“I was reporting to duty and spotted a woman dragging a small boy and walking on the railway line in a sudden haste. I felt for sure that this woman was attempting to cause some injury to the child from the way she was advancing towards the railway track. I also spotted the Matale bound train approaching from Kandy. I got disturbed visualizing the tragedy that was to befall at any moment.
I forcibly pulled the child from the grip of his mother. During this act I thought about my position as an expectant mother. Now I am happy and convinced that I was able to save the life of an innocent child.”
She counts 20 years of service in the police service. Her husband Saman Kumara Medegewatte is a PC in the Balagolla Police Traffic Unit. She is the mother of one and is now expecting her second child.
The onlookers had praised the woman police officer for her bravery.
With limited mobility due to her advanced stage of pregnancy, she shouted at the woman not to push the child onto the train.