Torture

SRI LANKA: Foreign Minister’s condemnation of torture needs to be backed by action in Sri Lanka

“The Government of Sri Lanka, taking serious note of recent allegations regarding torture while in police custody, has introduced short and long-term preventive mechanisms to address the issue, in line with the recommendations of treaty bodies.  The Government of Sri Lanka condemns torture without any reservation.  The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has also […]

UPDATE (India): Police pressure torture victim’s family to withdraw complaint

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned to hear that Ms Pranati Dhara, the youngest sister of Soumyendu Mondal, who died in the Kharagpur police lock-up on 6-7 July 2004, is being threatened to withdraw the complaints against the torture perpetrators. (See further: UA-87-2004). Pranati filed a further complaint with the Kharagpur […]

SRI LANKA: Two young men severely tortured and falsely charged by the Panadura North police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that two young men were severely tortured by the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Panadura North Police Station and falsely charged with theft on 16 February 2005. It is reported that one of the men, W. Inuka Prasad Kumara Alwis, had a dispute with his […]

SRI LANKA: A torture victim is under imminent threats to his life due to the plotting of ASP Ranmal Kodithuwaaku

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the continuous attempts on the life of and fabrication of charges against torture victim, Mr. Nimal Silva Gunaratne plotted by his main torture perpetrator ASP Ranmal Koddithuwaku, who is the son of the then Inspector of the Police (IGP) at the time of […]

SRI LANKA: Torture of a young man and fabrication of charges by Kiriella police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the torture of Mr Dassanayakage Chintaka Deshapriya (32) by Kiriella police on 2 February 2005. In an attempt to implicate the victim in the sales of illicit liquor, for which he had no involvement, Kiriella Police brutally assaulted Mr Deshapriya and detained him […]

SRI LANKA: Gerald Perera’s murder trial may not begin for another 5-7 years

While the murder case of Judge Ambepitiya–who was killed two days before Gerald Perera was shot–is already fixed for trial at bar, it may take 5-7 years–or even more–before Gerald’s case is even begun to be heard at the high court. Despite Gerald being a witness waiting to give evidence in a criminal case when […]

SRI LANKA: Torture of three persons by several officers of the Kandana Police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the arbitrary arrest and torture of three men by the Kandana police on 2 March 2005. Due to several assaults, two of the victims, C. Niroshan and Dinesh, were seriously injured and admitted into Ward No. 19 at the Ragama Teaching Hospital. However, […]

SRI LANKA: Assault of 12-year-old by the Wattegama police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received the information that a 12-year-old boy named A.M. Shriyantha Bandara was severely assaulted by the officers from the Wattegama Police Station at his house in Lekampallama, Jambugahapitiya, Sri Lanka on 28 January 2005.  Due to the assault, the boy was admitted to the Kandy General […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Lalith Rajapakse freed; Action needs to be taken against the police who falsely charged him

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that torture victim Lalith Rajapakse was acquitted by the Magistrate of Wattala regarding charges of obstruction of police duty on 21 February 2005. He had been acquitted of other two charges of robbery on 29 September 2003 as there was not the slightest bit […]

SRI LANKA: A torture victim is under threat from his torture perpetrators and his lawyer is allegedly collaborating with the accused

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the defense lawyer of Asaru Pulige Sarath Jayaweera Sandanayake (43), who had filed a Fundamental Rights Application before the Supreme Court in 2004, allegedly cooperated with the accused. It is alleged that the victim’s lawyer spoke with the accused during the court hearing […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): The assassin of Gerald Perera has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department

[RE: UP-76-2004: SRI LANKA: Gerald Perera died after gunshot; His family needs urgent protection, UP-74-2004:  SRI LANKA: No action from the government to protect torture victim even after attempt on his life, UA-157-2004: SRI LANKA: Torture victim pursuing criminal torture case shot; UP-47-2002 (RE: UA/18 and 19/2002 – Torture by police, impunity and denial of proper […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Death threats to a torture victim’s family from accused police officers

[RE: UA-50-2003: Torture of 14 year old child by police officers, UP-37-2003: The family of 14-year-old torture victim threatened by the police and a local politician; UP-47-2003: SRI LANKA: Torture victim’s family flees home due to police threats] Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that the family of a torture […]

SRI LANKA: Wadduwa police refused to file a complaint of a man who was assaulted by a drunk sergeant

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the assault of Mr Marasinghe Arachchige Anura Dissanayaka by the police sergeant Nimal of the Wadduwa Police Station on 24 January 2005. After being severely hit around the head by Sergeant Nimal, who was drunk at the time of the assault, Mr Anura […]

INDIA: Railway staff tortured by escorts of senior police officers in West Bengal

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that railway staff Mohammad Musharaf Hossain was severely assaulted by two police escorts of senior police officers in West Bengal, India on 4 January 2005. Mr. Hossain refused the request of the two police guards to open the level-crossing gate at Krishnagar to allow […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Updated information on the torture of the four men by the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya police

[RE: UP-04-2005: THAILAND: Repeated torture at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Police Station; UA-170-2004: Anther case of torture to obtain confession at Ayutthaya Police Station, UP-75-2004: Demand immediate criminal action against police torturers, UP-71-2004: More serious allegations of police torture emerge in Thailand, UA-153-2004: Two cases of extremely serious torture and cruel and inhuman treatment by […]

SRI LANKA: A torture of a police constable by the Bandaragama police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a disabled police constable was brutally tortured by the Bandaragama police after being illegally arrested on 17 January 2005. The actual reason for his arrest is unclear. However, the victim alleged that he was harassed and intimidated because one of his torturers, Inspector […]

INDIA: Eight people arbitrarily re-arrested and tortured by the Newasa police despite the court’s release orders

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that two men named Rajendra (Raju) Kale and Anna Lashkare, along with six other persons, were inhumanely tortured on 7 November 2004 by the Newasa police in Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra, India. Eight people including Raju and Anna were arrested by the Newasa Police on […]

INDIA: Young man committed suicide after the police torture in West Bengal

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, a human rights organisation in West Bengal, that a young man named Kartik Ghosh committed suicide after being tortured by a local businessman and an assistant sub-inspector (A.S.I.) of the Baluhati Police Camp under Domjur Police Station in Howrah District, West Bengal, […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Further torture and harassment of a complainant by the Katugastota police

[RE: UA-03-2004: A man who gave up illicit liquor sale was tortured by police from the Katugastota Police Station on 12 January 2004 and UP-72-2004: A torture victim has received threats by Katugastota Police, after he lodged a complaint against them on 19 November 2004] Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply […]

NEPAL : Threat to re-arrest a man for the second time following his release on Supreme Court orders

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned by new information received by Asia Forum, a local human rights organisation, of the attempted second re-arrest of a person by Nepalese security forces following his release from detention on Supreme Court orders. According to Asia Forum, Mofiuiddin Khan was first arrested on 28 […]