SRI LANKA: A man severely tortured by the police officer at the Katugastota Police Station 

Dear friends

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a man was severely tortured by the police officers after he was illegally arrested. Currently, the victim is in serious condition and his family has been threatened after they made a complaint to the police. Your urgent action is required to pressure the local authorities to correct this matter immediately.

Urgent Appeals Desk

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

——————————————————-

Name of the victim: Raman Pillai Kesam Nayar Ashokan, 42, a cashier of a wine store (unemployed now);

Address of the victim: 35/3 A, Mapanawathura lane, Kandy

Period of detention and torture: from 6 September to 16 September 2003

Perpetrators: A sub-inspector and three “Grama Arakshaka [village security assistant]” officers (can be identified if seen) attached to the Katugastota Police Station

DETAILED INFORMATION:

On 6 September 2003, Raman Pillai Kesam Nayar Ashokan, 42, a cashier of a wine store, was attacked by some unknown persons while he was carrying the money. The robbers put him inside a van and used some chemicals on his face, which made him unconscious.

When he regained his consciousness, Raman Pillai found himself inside a police jeep. Around 8:30pm, he was brought to the Katugastota police station and was questioned. Raman Pillai told the police that he was robbed. Around 9:30pm the owner of the wine store, the employer of the victim, arrived in the police station. After the owner talked to the police for about 10-15 minutes, the police accused Raman Pillai of stealing the money and while questioning, they assaulted him.

After the assault, Raman Pillai was put inside the police cell. Later the police took him to a doctor at Katugastota hospitala, and then to the district medical officer (DMO). After examining him, the DMO said that some chemicals like chloroform was used on him and the police should take the victim to a hospital with better technical facilities. However, the police brought Raman Pillai back to the police station and put him in a cell. Meanwhile, the police did not inform Raman Pillai’s family about his arrest nor detention. The victim’s family knew his arrest only at the noon of 7 September. When his wife visited the victim at the police station, she found that he could speak to her with great difficulty.

According to the victim, the police took him to the upstairs of the police station and removed his clothes. They ordered him to lie down and blindfolded his eyes. Then, they seriously beat him with something that the victim felt as a cane or a pole. The police had kept asking whether he took the money and where the money was. The police also threatened him that they would push him down from the upstairs and he would be killed. A police officer told him to tell the truth while hit the victim’s soles and feet. After severely beating on the victim¡¦s soles, the police forced him to jump up and down. They also asked him to carry a police officer who was there and walk stamping his feet heavily on the ground.

A police officer also hit the victim’s nose with a pole. He again forced the victim to lie down and three persons sat on his back tightly while he was again hit on the soles. Because it was so painful, Raman Pillai tried to get up but the persons who sat on him had held him tightly. He was not able to walk because of the severe pain. Raman Pillai recognized the persons who sat on him as the “Grama Arakshaka ” officers [village security assistant].

Later, the police put the victim in the police cell. Then, the police forced him to sign a statement, which he did know nothing about and they did not explain anything about the document to him. The police later took him to the magistrate and the magistrate ordered the victim to be remanded. While he was in remand, the victim had difficulties in breathing and had a severe pain on his back and soles. He was bailed out only on 16 September 2003. He received medical treatment at a private medical clinic from 17 to 18 September. However, his condition became worse and he was hospitalized at the Peradeniya General Hospital on 22 September 2003. While the victim was in hospital, his family has received threats from some unknown persons, who are believed to be coerced by the perpetrators after they have complained to the police.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Send a letter, fax or email to the addresses below and express your concern of this serious case.

1 Hon. Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe
Prime Minister
Cambridge Place, Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 2 682905
E-mail: secpm@sltnet.lk or bradmanw@slt.lk

2. Hon. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 2 436 421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net or counsel@sri.lanka.net

3. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC
Chairman National Police Commission
69-1 Ward Place, Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 2 691 926
Fax HOME: +941 2 674148

4. National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 1 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 1 2 694 924
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk

5. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917-9016
E-mail: secrt.hchr@unog.ch

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER