SRI LANKA: Alleged assault of a student by Deniyaya police

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a Sub Inspector attached to Deniyaya Police Station allegedly tortured a young student in the process of interrogating him on suspicion of carrying out a robbery on 28 April 2008. As the boy denied the charge the police threatened and demanded money from his parents.

CASE DETAILS: (based on the statements from the victim and his parents)

Having received an order from the police station, Janaka Pradeep Kumara, 14-year-old student, went with his father and mother to Deniyaya Police Station to give a statement regarding the loss of a cell phone on 28 April 2008.

At the Criminal Investigation Section in the police station, a police officer took Pradeep inside a room along with a man named Ananda who resides the Deniyaya area and came out after about 10 minutes. The police officer said to Ananda, “This fellow had not taken your cell phone, it is your responsibility to safe guard your phone. It shows your carelessness. We cannot do anything and you had better to make an entry of losing your phone.” Meanwhile, Pradeep and his parents were waiting for an officer to take down his statement.

Suddenly, another officer, Sub Inspector (SI) Wimalakeerthi came and took Pradeep by the hand with saying, “are you the man?” and took him inside the room again. When Pradeep’s mother attempted to follow them, the SI wimalakeerth ordered her to remain outside.

However, as they were concerned, Pradeep’s mother Gamage Indrani went inside where the SI had taken Pradeep and saw that the SI was holding Pradeep by his shirt collar and slapping him. On seeing the assault, Indrani shouted at him not to hit Pradeep. Then, the SI told her, “If you want to take him away, pay the value of the phone. Otherwise, I will break his bones and produce him at the court tomorrow.”

In order to prevent Pradeep being assaulted again and avoid him to be produced before the court, Indrani decided to pay the value of the phone. But, Pradeep shouted, “Do not pay any money for a thing I have not done. If you are paying, it means we are admitting.” Pradeep also told the Inspector of Police not to accept the money saying, “if you take the money from my mother, it means that you are turning me to a culprit for a crime I have not committed. Hereafter, I will not attend school and would commit suicide.”

However, with the intention of saving Pradeep, Indrani paid Rs. 6,000 (USD 55.7) and asked for a receipt. The SI Wimalakeerthi refused to give her a receipt and threatened to remand them including his parents. Pradeep started shouting at mother with saying, “you paid money, now I become a culprit.” After being released on at 4:45pm on April 28, he went to a hotel, swallowed sixteen tablets of Panadol. He also tried to jump from the top of a building but was prevented by other people.

At 6pm on the same day Pradeep was admitted to Deniyaya hospital due to the overdose. As his condition deteriorated he was transferred to Karapitiya hospital. Although Pradeep survived he has suffered mental trauma from this incident. He was discharged from the hospital on May 4.

His parents have submitted a complaint to various local authorities on May 6. 

SUGGESTED ACTION: 
Please write to the local authorities listed below demanding thorough investigation in this case.

Please be informed that the AHRC has written a letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of torture calling for an intervention in this case.

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