The Nikaweratiya Magistrate's Court has ordered the remand of a police sergeant, who was arrested in connection with the death of a suspect while in Kobeyigane police custody, until today (02). This order was issued yesterday (01) after the suspect officer was presented to the court. With this controversial death, authorities are currently taking several stringent decisions regarding the safety and responsibility of suspects taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Police.
The beginning of this tragedy was marked on October 25th last year, at noon, in the Beddegama area of Kobeyigane. A young man, allegedly involved in several thefts in the area, was caught by villagers, tied to a tree, and handed over to the Kobeyigane police. However, after being in police custody for two days, he died on October 27th after being admitted to Nikaweratiya Hospital. The police stated that he was admitted to both Nikaweratiya and Kurunegala hospitals and died while receiving treatment under police protection at Nikaweratiya Hospital.
However, there is a strong contradiction between the police and the villagers regarding how this death occurred. Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wuttler, stated that there is suspicion that the deceased was assaulted by the villagers, and accordingly, the Kobeyigane police arrested four individuals in connection with the incident. However, the villagers strongly deny this accusation, stating that the police arrived less than an hour after they tied the suspect to a tree, bathed him, and took him away unharmed. They argue that if an assault had occurred, the police could have immediately hospitalized him, and it is unfair to place the responsibility for his death after two days in custody on the villagers.
With the recent mysterious death of a father of one in a Homagama police cell and the Kobeyigane incident, a significant discourse has emerged in the country regarding the safety of citizens in police custody. Authorities have emphasized that the government does not condone any assault or inhumane harassment of citizens in custody.
In light of this situation, on the instructions of the Minister in charge of Police, Mr. Ananda Wijepala, Inspector General of Police (Attorney-at-Law) Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued a special order to all police stations. It strictly states that if any assault, harassment, or injury occurs to a suspect taken into custody within a police station, the full responsibility for it must be borne by the respective Officer-in-Charge (OIC) or the Headquarters Chief Inspector. The Inspector General of Police, on the Minister's instructions, has officially confirmed that severe disciplinary and legal action will be taken against the OIC if any person is subjected to such violence within their police station henceforth.
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