Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the Bulathsinhala police who failed to conduct an investigation into the complaint of a man who was stabbed by some villagers on 1 October 2007. It is alleged that one of attackers bribed the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the police station concerned and the OIC is now protecting the attacker. The victim’s mother filed a complaint on October 5 but the attackers are still free due to the absence of an investigation.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the testimony of the victim’s mother)
On 1 October 2007, Guna Munige Lakpriya (33) was working in the rubber estate when without warning some villagers approached and attacked him. They stabbed him and further cut him on the hands and legs. They also struck hit his head with a pole. It is reported that this followed an argument that had taken place beforehand. One of persons who led the attack is known as Ranga Kumara and he is considered a thug in the village. After this incident, Lakpriya was immediately taken to the intensive care unit of the National Hospital Colombo and warded for 3 days. Consequently he was transferred to the Horana hospital.
On the same day when the Acting Superintendent of the Estate tried to lodge a complaint with the Bulathsinhala police the police refused to record it stating that he was not relevant to this incident.
The following day (October 2), Malimage Misi Nona, Lakpriya’s mother tried to go to the Bulathsinhala police station in order to lodge a complaint. However, before she was able to leave the house one of attackers named Sunil, together with another person carrying a gun and a mobile phone arrived and threatened her and the family not to go anywhere.
On October 5, Malimage Misi Nona was brave enough to go to the police station to lodge a complaint even though she was under the threat. A woman police officer at the Bulathsinhala police station recorded the complaint but the officer did not let the mother read or check the contents of the complaint, nor explained anything to her. (Complaint no. MOIB 177/33)
According to the information received, it is alleged that Ranga Kumara has been working very closely with the Bulathsinhala police and pays them bribe in order to get his work done. It is also alleged that the OIC of Bulathsinhala police is protecting Ranga Kumara and no action has been taken, even though the case had already been filed.
The AHRC is concerned about the alleged connection between the OIC of Bulathsinhala police station and Ranga Kumara and the fact that the investigation has yet to be conducted. An immediate and impartial investigation has to be launched without any interference and the special security concerns of the family members should be considered as a matter of priority.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities listed below and urge them to start an impartial investigation immediately and take legal action against the alleged perpetrators who assaulted the victim. Please also urge them to guarantee the security of the victims’ family.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
SRI LANKA: Absence of Investigation due to the alleged corruption of Bulathsinhala police
Name of victim: Guna Munige Lakpriya (33), married with 2 children, worker at rubber estate, resident of C/o Benthara Hotel, Kalawellawa, Mahagama
Name of alleged perpetrators: Officer-in-Charge of Bulathsinhala police station, Mathugama Dist., Kalutara Division
I am writing to express my grave concern regarding the delay of conducting impartial investigation into the case of Guna Munige Lakpriya who was brutality assaulted by some village people while he was working in the rubber estate.
According to the information received, some villagers stabbed Lakpriya and cut him on his hands and legs and hit his head with a pole. As a result of this attack, the victim was warded for three days in the intensive care unit of the National Hospital Colombo on 1 October 2007 and transferred to the Horana Hospital. On the same day when the Acting Superintendent of the Estate tried to lodge a complaint to the Bulathsinhala police however, the police did not record it with saying that he was not relevant to this incident.
On next day October 2, when Malimage Misi Nona, Lakpriya’s mother tried to go to the Bulathsinhala police station in order to lodge a complaint, at the same time one of attackers named as Sunil together with another person carrying a gun and a mobile came to her house and threatened her family not to go anywhere. However, on October 5, Malimage Misi Nona was brave enough to go to the police station to lodge a complaint even though she was under the threats and a woman police officer at the Bulathsinhala police station recorded the complaint but the police officer did not let the mother to read or check the contents of the complaint nor explained anything to the mother. (Complaint no. MOIB 177/33)
It is alleged that Ranga Kumara has been working very closely with the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Bulathsinhala police and used to pay bribe to the police in order to get his work done. It is also alleged that the OIC of Bulathsinhala police was protecting Ranga Kumara and no action has been taken even though the case had already been filed.
In the light of the above, I urge you to immediately intervene in this case in order to ensure that impartial and thorough investigation start without any interference. I also urge you to find out the reported allegation that the connection between the OIC of Bulathsinhala police station and Ranga Kumara and the reason of delay of investigation. I further urge you to pay special attention to the victim’s family members for their security from any possible harm from those attackers.
I earnestly look forward to your prompt action into this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:
1. Mr. Victor Perera
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. C.R. De Silva
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net
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
4. Senior Superintendent of Police
Kalutara Division
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 34 2222199
5. 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@ahrchk.org)
