Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Yogarasa Dinesh (24) of Nelliady, Point Pedro in Jaffna District. Two police officers attached to the Point Pedro Police Station opened fire, point blank, on Dinesh sitting in the front seat of his lorry on the road from Manalkadu to Point Pedro. The Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) who conducted the Post Mortem Investigation concluded that he had died as a result of gunshot wounds to the chest. When questioned, the Police maintained that they had fired from the back of the vehicle. The issue then remains, how did the entry wounds show up on the victim’s chest—the front of the body? Relatives of the victim declared that Dinesh was illegally and unlawfully murdered by the Police. THEY SEEK JUSTICE.
Case Narrative:
The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information about the case of Mr. Yogarasa Dinesh of Nelliady, Point Pedro, Jaffna District. Dinesh was a 24-year-old, single young man, who was shot point blank, in cold blood, for no reason by Police Officers of the Point Pedro Police Station.
On 9 July 2017, two police officers on Manalkadu Point Pedro Road, opened fire on a parked lorry. Dinesh was sitting in the front seat of this vehicle at 3:40 PM when the shooting took place. It resulted in his immediate death.
Later, the Police issued a Media statement. The two police officers who opened fire on Dinesh inside his vehicle were named as Police Officers, Shiwarasa Sanjeewa and Abutar Mohamed Mubarak.
According to the relatives, Police Officer Shiwarasa is a resident of the same village, Nelliady, where Dinesh also lived. They believe that the Police had no reason, justified by law, for shooting Dinesh. They said that the Police illegally shot and murdered their relative.
Funeral proceedings for Dinesh were held at the Nelliady Public Cemetery on the evening of 11 July 2017. While the rituals were going on, hundreds of police officers surrounded the area, disturbing relatives and friends as they performed the ceremonies for the deceased! It was also observed that large numbers of Sri Lanka Police Department officers and the Police Special Task Force (STF) reinforcements continued to remain in the area for several days.
The post-mortem examination of the deceased was conducted by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. JMO, Dr. S. Mayuradhan confirmed in the post-mortem examination that the victim died from gunshot wounds (GSW) to the chest.
The Police informed the public of the following: the Police Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mevan Silva is due to arrive in Jaffna with immediate effect. He is to conduct further investigations into the shooting on 11 July 2017.
This dispatch was promulgated under orders of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Initially, a team of Police personnel was dispatched to Point Pedro to conduct investigations under the leadership of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Special Investigation Unit.
At this point, Dinesh’s relatives are in fear and doubt that the Police will conduct a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the attack. They are of the opinion that the Police Officers favor their colleagues responsible for the death of their family member.
The relatives of the victim declared that Dinesh was murdered by Police Officers attached to the Point Pedro Police. They violated his fundamental right to life guaranteed by the country’s Constitution. RELATIVES SEEK JUSTICE.
Suggested Action:
Please send letters to the Authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case. Request an immediate investigation into the allegation of the killing of a civilian by Police. Those proven to be responsible under criminal law for misusing the powers of the State should be prosecuted. The officers involved must be subject to internal investigations for breach of Police Departmental Orders. Kindly request the National Police Commission (NPC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to initiate a special investigation into the malpractice of police officers abusing their powers.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _______
SRI LANKA: Innocent young man shot dead for no reason by Point Pedro Police
Name of Victim: Mr. Yogarasa Dinesh of Nelliady, Point Pedro in Jaffna District
Alleged perpetrators: Police Officers, Shiwarasa Sanjeewa and Abutar Mohamed Mubarak attached to the Point Pedro Police Station
Date of incident: 9 July 2017
Place of incident: Manalkadu Road, Point Pedro Police Division
According to the information I have received regarding Mr. Yogarasa Dinesh of Nelliady, Point Pedro, Jaffna District – a 24-year-old, single young man, who was shot point blank, in cold blood, for no reason by Police Officers of the Point Pedro Police Station.
On 9 July 2017, two police officers on Manalkadu Point Pedro Road, opened fire on a parked lorry. Dinesh was sitting in the front seat of this vehicle at 3:40 PM when the shooting took place. It resulted in his immediate death.
Later, the Police issued a Media statement. The two police officers who opened fire on Dinesh inside his vehicle were named as Police Officers, Shiwarasa Sanjeewa and Abutar Mohamed Mubarak.
According to the relatives, Police Officer Shiwarasa is a resident of the same village, Nelliady, where Dinesh also lived. They believe that the Police had no reason, justified by law, for shooting Dinesh. They said that the Police illegally shot and murdered their relative.
Funeral proceedings for Dinesh were held at the Nelliady Public Cemetery on the evening of 11 July 2017. While the rituals were going on, hundreds of police officers surrounded the area, disturbing relatives and friends as they performed the ceremonies for the deceased! It was also observed that large numbers of Sri Lanka Police Department officers and the Police Special Task Force (STF) reinforcements continued to remain in the area for several days.
The post-mortem examination of the deceased was conducted by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. JMO, Dr. S. Mayuradhan confirmed in the post-mortem examination that the victim died from gunshot wounds (GSW) to the chest.
The Police informed the public of the following: the Police Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mevan Silva is due to arrive in Jaffna with immediate effect. He is to conduct further investigations into the shooting on 11 July 2017.
This dispatch was promulgated under orders of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Initially, a team of Police personnel was dispatched to Point Pedro to conduct investigations under the leadership of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Special Investigation Unit.
At this point, Dinesh’s relatives are in fear and doubt that the Police will conduct a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the attack. They are of the opinion that the Police Officers favor their colleagues responsible for the death of their family member.
The relatives of the victim declared that Dinesh was murdered by Police Officers attached to the Point Pedro Police. They violated his fundamental right to life guaranteed by the country’s Constitution. RELATIVES SEEK JUSTICE.
I request the intervention of your good offices. Ensure that the Authorities listed below open an immediate investigation. Examine allegations of the violation of the fundamental right to life of the victim by officers of the Sri Lanka Police Department. Those Officers involved should be subject to internal investigation for breach of Police Departmental Orders.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Pujith Jayasundara
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya PC
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk
3. Secretary
National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk or polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary
Human Rights Commission
No. 36, Kynsey Road
Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
