Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned of the illegal arrest, detention and assault of a man by police from Saliyawewa Police Station. The victim was badly beaten by police on his arrest, was transported between police stations by bicycle, and was denied sufficient medical treatment. The charges against him appear to have few grounds, and his assault was not reported to hospital police or the judicial medical officer at the local hospital.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to the information that we have received, on 11 May 2010 around 10:00am two officers from Saliyawewa Police Station wearing civilian clothes arrived at Mr. Undiya Ralalage Premaratne’s house located at 1073 Nelabamma, Saliyawewa Junction. The officers arrived on a bicycle, which the victim recognized as belonging to another civilian resident in Neelabamma, called Pradeep. The officers asked Premaratne how many gold necklaces he owned, took the two that he had, and handcuffed him. After this an officer called Illangasinghe reportedly kicked him to the ground and kicked and beat him to the upper body and head for around ten minutes while the second policeman stood by.
Premaratne reports he was taken to Giriulla Police Station between the two men on the bicycle. When they arrived at the station the victim alleges that he was put in a cell and cuffed by his ankle to a table, where he sat on the floor for two and half hours.
It is reported that around 2:30pm Mr. Premaratne was taken to Saliyawewa Police Station, again by bicycle, and put in a cell. However he reports that his condition deteriorated due to the beating he had received. At around 10pm the police officers told him that they were taking him to Puttalam Hospital, but instead took him in a jeep to Police Post 9 on Anuradhapura Road, in Tuttalam, and then to a Government Dispensary on Post 17 in Aluthgama. There he was able to tell a doctor about his assault and show his injuries. However after a short meeting with police, the doctor returned and performed a number of simple coordination tests (to walk in a line and to touch his nose) which led the victim to believe that he was being tested for drunkenness. The doctor then filled in a Medico Legal form, which the victim did not see before he was returned to the cell at the Saliyawewa station.
At around 2pm on 12 May we are told that Premaratne was taken before the magistrate in Puttalam and released on cash bail (Rs. 1,500) and surety bail (Rs. 50,000). He took himself to the Puttalam Government Hospital and was admitted for three days, to be treated for injuries relating to the assault. We are told that although Premaratne disclosed the assault to the doctors, they were reluctant to report the issue further. The hospital police were not summoned and he was not seen by a Judicial Medial Officer; however he reports that his signature was taken before he was discharged.
The victim alleges that fabricated charges have been taken against him. It is imperitive that his assault and the flouting of procedure during his arrest be thoroughly investigated, along with the charges against him.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case and calling for an investigation.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ________,
SRI LANKA: A man is badly beaten by officers during an illegal arrest and denied medical treatment
Name of victim:
Mr. Undiya Ralalge Premaratne, 58; farmer and resident at 1073 Nelabamma, Saliyawewa junction.
Alleged perpetrators:
Officer Illangasinghe and another policeman attached to Saliyawewa Police Station.
Date of Incident: 11 May 2010
Place of Incident: Giriulla Police Station and Saliyawewa Police Station.
I am writing to express my concern about the illegal arrest, detention and assault of a man by police from Saliyawewa Police Station. The victim was badly beaten by police on his arrest, was transported between police stations by bicycle, and was denied sufficient medical treatment. The charges against him appear to have few grounds, and his assault was not reported to hospital police or the judicial medical officer at the local hospital.
According to the information that I have received, on 11 May 2010 around 10:00am two officers from Saliyawewa Police Station wearing civilian clothes arrived at Mr. Undiya Ralalage Premaratne’s house located at 1073 Nelabamma, Saliyawewa Junction. The officers arrived on a bicycle, which the victim recognized as belonging to another civilian resident in Neelabamma, called Pradeep. The officers asked Premaratne how many gold necklaces he owned, took the two that he had, and handcuffed him. After this an officer called Illangasinghe reportedly kicked him to the ground and kicked and beat him to the upper body and head for around ten minutes while the second policeman stood by.
Premaratne reports he was taken to Giriulla Police Station between the two men on the bicycle. When they arrived at the station the victim alleges that he was put in a cell and cuffed by his ankle to a table, where he sat on the floor for two and half hours. It is reported that around 2:30pm Mr. Premaratne was taken to Saliyawewa Police Station, again by bicycle, and put in a cell. However he reports that his condition deteriorated due to the beating he had received. At around 10pm the police officers told him that they were taking him to Puttalam Hospital, but instead took him in a jeep to Police Post 9 on Anuradhapura Road, in Tuttalam, and then to a Government Dispensary on Post 17 in Aluthgama. There he was able to tell a doctor about his assault and show his injuries. However after a short meeting with police, the doctor returned and performed a number of simple coordination tests (to walk in a line and to touch his nose) which led the victim to believe that he was being tested for drunkenness. The doctor then filled in a Medico Legal form, which the victim did not see before he was returned to the cell at the Saliyawewa station.
At around 2pm on 12 May I am told that Premaratne was taken before the magistrate in Puttalam and released on cash bail (Rs. 1,500) and surety bail (Rs. 50,000). He took himself to the Puttalam Government Hospital and was admitted for three days, to be treated for injuries relating to the assault. I understand that lthough Premaratne disclosed the assault to the doctors, they were reluctant to report the issue further. The hospital police were not summoned and he was not seen by a Judicial Medial Officer; however he reports that his signature was taken before he was discharged.
The victim alleges that fabricated charges have been taken against him.
I urge that an immediate inquiry be initiated into the charges made against Mr. Premaratne, and that his allegations of police assault be thoroughly investigated, with disciplinary and legal action taken against the police officers proven to be responsible.
Yours sincerely,
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mahinda Balasuriya
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. Mohan Peiris
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk
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 or polcom@sltnet.lk
4. 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@ahrc.asia)
