New autopsy ordered for 26-year-old man who died in police custody in Colombo
Protests are taking place opposite the Welikada police station demanding justice for Sathsara Nimesh. Speaking to AsiaNews, his mother wonders how this could have happened since he was in good health. An investigation has been opened and three of the officers held responsible have been removed. But activists, religious and lawyers are calling on the government to take concrete steps against this problem.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Protests have occurred for days in Sri Lanka following the death in police custody of Sathsara Nimesh, including opposite the Welikada Police station on Sunday evening.
“Stop police brutality" and "Justice for Sathsara" are the key slogans of demonstrators.
Yesterday, the Court ordered the exhumation of the body of young man.
“How could my son, who was in good health, face such a death?" asked his mother, speaking to AsiaNews.
Sathsara Nimesh, 26, a resident of Meegahakivula, Badulla, Uva province, had traveled to Colombo to participate in a caregiving course at a major hospital.
Following a complaint about an alleged incident, he was arrested on 1 April and died after being hospitalised while in police custody.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera, who reviewed the petition filed by his mother Liyanage Samanthi, ordered Colombo's Chief Medical Officer to conduct a new autopsy by a panel of three doctors.
This is the second death in custody at the Welikada police station after a woman named Raj Kumari was tortured to death.
Protests have erupted as soon as Sathsara Nimesh's case became public. Welikada police have faced harsh criticism and widespread reactions on social media.
As a result, the station’s chief officer was removed from his post while a sergeant and a constable were suspended for alleged neglect.
Protesters gathered in front of the Welikada police station stressed that the dismissal and suspension of police officers responsible for the loss of life are only temporary actions. For this reason, they ask for appropriate penalties for the culprits.
Human rights activists, religious representatives, artists, lawyers, media, youth and concerned citizens have joined the protest, slamming "police brutality”, urging “the government to take the necessary action against the criminals.”
“We see that state repression has not stopped even in the new government. This death is one of the scars of state terrorism. We condemn the recurrence of such unjust incidents, even in this government that was elected after a great struggle with great hopes," said Sister Deepa Fernando, Co-Convenor of the Movement of Christian Women's Voice (MoCWV), speaking to AsiaNews.
Because of such incidents, people are afraid to go to the police, Sister Fernando explained. “We thought that the situation was over, but it continues to happen. Even if not everyone in the police is like that, we have to say that it is a murderous police,” she said.
"We urge the police not to destroy the lives of youth. If they have committed any kind of a wrong, please act through the accepted law in the country for the culprits,” she added. For its part, the government should “identify the murderous police quickly and respond to them properly. Change this unfair situation in the police quickly."
“Deaths in police custody are a very common practice in this country,” said Tharushi Dishara, a lawyer, speaking to AsiaNews. “In January and April of last year, two young people were killed. Also, on February 10 this year, a person was killed at the Wadduwa police station. But the post-mortem examinations of these deaths have been delayed. Therefore, justice for such deaths is being delayed indefinitely.”
Lawyer Senaka Perera, executive secretary of the Committee for the Protection of Prisoners' Rights, also spoke to AsiaNews, saying that he was happy to accept yesterday's court order for the exhumation of the young Sathsara. “This is a real victory from the side of the victim,” he said.
He added that his organisation has already protested in the past against the torture and killing of suspects in police custody, urging the relevant authorities, including the Inspector General of Police, to stop them immediately.
For Perera, immediate measures should be taken to stop the unlawful acts carried out by the police. Otherwise, the rule of law will be violated as well as the rights of individuals.
Since Sathsara Nimesh’s death, his group has repeatedly called for a swift investigation and for the law to be applied against those responsible.
.png)
