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, another victim, B.C. Princit Perera, is still detained at the Kandana Police Station although he needs urgent medical attention.

We call for your immediate action in this matter so that B.C. Princit Perera is released and can access medical treatment. Please also urge the local authorities to inquire into the incident and take action against the responsible police officers.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victims:
1. B.C. Princit Perera
2. C. Niroshan
3. Dinesh
Alleged perpetrators: Officers attached to the Kandana Police Station
Date of Incident: 2 March 2005 at around 5:00pm

Case details:

The three men named above, with a three year old child of B.C. Princit Perera, were traveling in a three-wheeler. When they arrived in front of the Kandana Police Station near Shanthi Stores, they were dragged out of the vehicle after some exchange of words with two persons in civilian dress, who were later found to be police officers belonging to the Kandana Police Station. The three year old child was also taken away from the three-wheeler by the police officers and handed over to a person in a nearby shop. The three victims were then seriously assaulted by these two police officers with a shovel, some poles, and by fists and boots.  Soon a crowd of police officers from the station rushed to the place and also engaged in the assault of the three victims. Thereafter, all three men were taken inside the police station where they were inhumanely assaulted again. A large crowd of people witnessed the incident.

The Kandana police called a brother-in-law of B.C. Princit Perera by telephone quite late at night to hand over the child who was left alone with strangers while the father was dragged to the police station by the officers. When he went to pick up the child, the brother-in-law also witnessed that the three men had serious injuries.

Two of the men, C. Niroshan and Dinesh, were produced by the Kandana police before an acting magistrate at midnight and then were admitted to the Ragama Teaching Hospital. They are now in Ward No. 19 and under treatment for their injuries. However, B.C. Princit Perera is still at the Kandana Police Station, although he needs urgent medical attention. Complaints have been made to the hotline of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

The AHRC urges the Sri Lankan authorities to immediately intervene in this matter, considering the seriousness and urgency of the case. B.C. Princit Perera should be released immediately and be provided appropriate medical attention. We also urge the Sri Lankan authorities to take action against responsible police officers, including prosecution, under the CAT Act No. 22 of 1994.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
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