Four Sri Lankan soldiers in custody over YouTube video

The Sri Lankan Army's military police is questioning four soldiers on leaked video footage which was uploaded on YouTube showing a group of female recruits being harassed, the media reported Saturday.

Four soldiers were arrested by the military police and were being questioned, Adjutant General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said.

"During investigations it was found that the platoon commander was not aware of the situation and the cruel treatment meted out to the trainee women soldiers by the soldiers in custody," the Daily Mirror reported citing the Adjutant General as saying.

The incident depicted in the video had taken place in October 2012 at a camp in the north central Anuradhapura town where some female recruits were being trained.

The video shows soldiers harassing and assaulting the recruits with sticks during a training session.

The video was uploaded on YouTube last month and the army was informed March 4.

"The punitive methods employed by the instructors were not in line with prescribed army procedures," the military said.