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AHRC raps police over torture
A Hong Kong based human rights group on Monday expressed concern at alleged routinely occurring police torture incidents in Sri Lanka and berated both the police and the government for an incident in which the father and the daughter had been tortured by police for the purpose of arresting another family member.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said it was dismayed that police officers who commit such acts remain law enforcement officers. It said the government must rid its law enforcement agencies of persons who do such barbaric acts and blatantly violate the law.

It emphasised that a heavy burden lies with the Attorney General - under whom there is a branch to prosecute torture perpetrators - to act decisively. The alleged torture incident took place at Matugama. On June 30, at about 1 p.m. a group of police officers arrived in a jeep at Arthur Vithanage's house situated in Ovitigala. Only the driver was in uniform.

A sub-inspector identified as Tennekone had allegedly entered the house saying, "You .........dog, where is Jayantha?"

Arthur, who is 60 years old, was reportedly beaten with a club and dragged to the back of the house. While he was dragged he fell down several times. He was pulled up each time he fell down and beaten. As the father was being beaten his daughter Anusha (20) ran towards him.

A sergeant identified as Vithana had beaten her with a baton saying, "Go, ...... girl, find your brother". As Arthur was being beaten the officers had allegedly remarked, "Let us beat and break the leg of this old fellow, then his son will come running from wherever he is". When his daughter again intervened saying, "Do not hit my father", the SI had beaten and pushed her.

Arthur was then dragged to the police jeep by the sergeant who had shouted, "Get in, you son of ......" and pushed him inside the police jeep. The sergeant is said to have threatened Anusha saying, "This old fellow and you will be put inside the house and burned." The SI is said to have threatened to rape and kill her saying, "We will kill you after playing with you."

Arthur was taken to the police station and put in a cell. He was taken out the next day at about 12:30 p.m. He was threatened that his son's hands and legs would be broken. He was told to sign a statement and then put back in the cell again.

Arthur was produced before a magistrate at about 2 p.m. the same day, charged with helping a suspect escape, and the magistrate gave him bail. Arthur entered hospital the same day and was there till July 3. While in hospital he made a complaint to the hospital police.

Later he made complaints to the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Kalutara, the IGP and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. However, no action has been taken by any of them regarding his complaint.

AHRC has pointed out that the treatment of Arthur and Anusha is one more instance of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment by the Sri Lankan police.

It expressed anxiety that Sri Lanka's law against torture (Act No. 22 of 1994) remains only in the books while police officers behave brutally against civilians.

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