8/3/2019 Torture Prevalence in Sri Lanka - 2012 (Part 01) By Janasansadaya

1/2

2012/01

Illegal Arrest and Inhuman Torture

Kiniyavala Police.

Ranepura Hewage Sampath Deshapriya is a 24 years old unmarrie d youth. He is a resi dent of Mananahena, Thalgaspe.

On 25.12.2011 , his mother Agnas Gunawar dena came to k now that his son was arreste d b y K iniyava la police. However, the arrest had tak en place severa l days before she came to k now of it.

Af ter receiving informati on, his mother went every day to see him at the K iniyava la police. She saw her son was being torture d inhuman ly by police off icers of K iniyava la police. Mar k s of b eatings were very visi ble on his bod y and his soles were turne d into pale.

Sampath talk ed to his mother with much diff iculty. W henever she spok e to her son, a police off icer was closer to them and wat ching.

On 31.01.2011 , when she was at the police stati on, a gr oup of police off icers came there in a jeep. They warne d her and sai d not to co mplain it to any bod y and if she did so then, she would not be permitte d to see him. They f urther said her to b ring a car d of pana dol- paink iller ta blets and l eave in the police stati on.

Sampaths mother believes that her son is being detaine d in this manner to pr ovide enough time for in juries of inhuman torture cures and his condition changes. She f ears that if he torture d f urther, then his lif e will be in danger. Acco r ding, to her Sampath does not tak e food.

She requests to hold an inquiry imme diately, mak e her son access medical treatment and ensure saf ety of his lif e.

Sampaths mother Ms.Agnas Gunawar dena made written complaints on 02.02.2012 , to the Human Rights Commissi on, Inspe ctor Genera l of Pol ice, Deputy Inspe ctor Genera l of Pol ice, K alutara andthe Senior Superinten dent of Pol ice, K alutara.

2012/02

Illegal Arrest and Torture

B oossa Army Camp.

V Ijitha Weera kkod y is a 47 years old marrie d mother with f ive children. She resi des in God agama,

Kosgoda.

K aludeva Pathma K umara De So ysa is her 22 years old son. Ear lier he had serve d in the Sinha Regiment of S ri Lank a Army and af ter returne d home in 2010 , he did not report to servi ce. Now he wor k s as a painter.

On 28.01.2012 , her daughter took a phone call to her son to invite him for lunch. Then, some unk nown person answere d her in loud voice that if she wante d to see her younger br other, she shouldcome to Ko sgoda police.

8/3/2019 Torture Prevalence in Sri Lanka - 2012 (Part 01) By Janasansadaya

2/2

Af ter that she, her daughter, her hus band and some of their relatives visite d Ko sgoda police to see Pathma K umara. At the police stati on they came to k now that he was arreste d b y off icers of Boo ssa Army Camp. So they went there and ask ed a bo ut him. One army off icer told them that the arrest or der was receive d f r om Colo m bo and they could not be allo wed to see him.

Af ter that they gave food whi ch they br ought for Pathma K umara to the off icer telling him to give it

to P athma K umara. Then the off icer gave the mobile phone of P athma K umara . They receive d it andcame home.

On 29.01.2012 , ar ound 5 .30 in the evening Pathma K umara gave a call to her sisters mobile phone and said that there was a weap on (galk atas) in the yar d and ask ed to k eep it there. He also told her that two persons would co me at night. But nobod y came on that night.

On 30.01.2012 ar ound 9 in the morning Pathma K umaras mother and other relatives went to the Boossa army camp to see him.

At ar ound 11 in the morning six off icers wearing red colo red uniforms came to their house in a jeep. Her son was insi de the jeep. But the off icers did not allow her son to spea k with them. There were

black do ts on his f ace and the f ace was swoll en. He was seate d there in diff icult. Af ter that the off icers took a gun f r om their yar d. These off icers took photos of the gun by their mobile phones. Before leaving these off icers told P athmas f ami ly mem bers not to d isclose a bo ut their arriva l to any place including the police.

Af ter sometime her daughter sai d over the phone that she met and spok e to her br other on her way home. Her daughter had got a teleph one num ber of an off icer on her visits to Boo ssa army camp.

On 31.01.2012 ar ound 9 at night her daughter gave a call to that teleph one num ber and ask ed a bo ut her br other. The off icer replied to it said that their son was ready to go Pol heng oda at ar ound 12 at night. Again when she took a teleph one call to that num ber they were informe d P athma was tak en toPolheng oda.

On 01.02.2012 P athmas mother and his relatives went to the Pol heng oda army camp. There they were allowed to see him. His f ace was swollen and his f inger nails were turne d in to bl ue colo r. His one eye was also turne d red. He cried and said them that only one weap on was in his possessi on andno any other, but they are torturing him deman ding other weap ons. He sai d them to res cue him andalso menti oned that he could not eat.

His mother V i jitha Weera kkod y made written complaints to relevant auth orities including Army Co mman der an d the Attorney Genera l to tak e lega l actions against all army off icers who illegally arreste d and d etaine d her son and torturing. She also requests to pr oduce him before a magistrate andgive medical treatment by admitting him in a hospita l.