• Rights group seeks special custody for cellmate eyewitness

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crimes Division and two Sub-Inspectors (SIs) attached to the Homagama Police were yesterday (26) interdicted over alleged administrative lapses following the death of a suspect in Police custody. Meanwhile, a prisoners’ rights group claims the only eyewitness to the incident is being threatened by the Police.

The deceased, Ishara Harsha Kumara, a 29-year-old father of two from Kiriwaththuduwa, died on 25 October after being arrested and detained by the Homagama Police in connection with a drug-related investigation. He allegedly died following an assault at the Homagama Police Station.

The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has requested that the eyewitness, who shared a cell with Kumara, be placed in special custody for his safety. The group claims the Police are threatening him with charges of possessing more than 10g of crystal methamphetamine Ice. According to the CPRP, the witness has also been denied access to family members and lawyers.

When contacted, CPRP President Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera said the cellmate had witnessed what happened to Kumara.

“He has seen the entire incident, but the Police aren’t allowing anyone to speak to him. We have information from reliable sources that the Police are going to file a case against him for possessing more than 10 g of Ice, and that he is being blackmailed to prevent him from revealing what happened,” he alleged.

According to Perera, Kumara was questioned by the Crimes Division of the Homagama Police following his arrest, and was allegedly tortured during this inquiry, which subsequently led to his death.

Kumara’s wife and brother had reportedly seen him alive and in good condition approximately one and a half hours before his death. However, he was later brought back to the cell with assistance, bleeding and unable to walk, Perera said.

Kumara’s wife and relatives have accused the Homagama Police of torturing him and failing to provide him with medical care, which they claim led to his death.

According to the CPRP, the post-mortem examination has been ordered to be conducted at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital instead of the Homagama Hospital, to safeguard the transparency of the process.

According to the Police Media Division (PMD), the suspect was arrested by Homagama Police officers at Pitipana Junction, within the Homagama Police Division, on Sunday (25). He was a resident of Moonamalewatta, Kiriwaththuduwa.

The PMD said the suspect suddenly fell ill after being brought to the police station and was subsequently admitted to the Homagama Base Hospital for treatment, where he later died.

Following notification of the death to the Homagama Magistrate’s Court, the Acting Magistrate visited the hospital, inspected the scene and conducted a magisterial inquiry into the incident, the PMD said. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be held at the Kalubowila Hospital today (27).

The PMD further stated that the Superintendent of Police in charge of the Homagama District (I) had suspended three officers with effect from yesterday, pending investigations into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.

The suspended officers include two Sub-Inspectors of Police who served as Officers-in-Charge of the Crimes Division and the Anti-Corruption/Raids Unit at the Homagama Police Station, respectively, and a Police Constable assigned to support duties.

The PMD further said investigations were being conducted under the direct supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Homagama Division, with the Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge of the Homagama District (II) overseeing the inquiry.

Meanwhile, acting on the orders and instructions of the Inspector General of Police, the Western Province South Divisional Crimes Division and the Police Special Investigation Unit had also launched investigations into the incident.