Three police officers attached to the Homagama Police Station, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of its Crimes Division, have been suspended following the mysterious death of a young man while being held in police custody.
According to Police, the suspended officers include the OIC of the Crimes Investigation Division, a Sub-Inspector and a Police Sergeant.
Further investigations into the death have been handed over to the Western Province South Crime Investigation Division.
The post-mortem examination of the deceased was scheduled to take place on 27 October at the Homagama Base Hospital.
The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Ishara Harsha Kumara, a father of one and a resident of Munamalewatta, Kiriwaththuduwa, who died while in police custody.
The victim’s family has strongly alleged that his death resulted from brutal and inhumane assaults carried out by police officers.
According to relatives, Kumara was arrested on the morning of 25 October. When they visited the police station to check on his condition, they reportedly witnessed officers dragging him from the Crimes Division and placing him inside a police cell.
The relatives claimed that he had already been severely assaulted and was in critical condition at the time.
Following repeated requests and pressure from the family, Police subsequently transferred him to the Homagama Base Hospital. However, relatives alleged that he was already dead when he arrived at the hospital.
Meanwhile, two complaints were lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) seeking justice over the alleged police assault and custodial death.
The complaints were submitted by the deceased’s brother and the wife of another young man who had been arrested alongside Kumara and was also allegedly assaulted.
Commenting on the incident earlier, Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police F. U. Wootler stated that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible for unlawful assaults in custody, regardless of rank or position.
He also strongly rejected allegations that the other young man arrested alongside the deceased had been forcibly disappeared.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated near the Homagama Base Hospital on 25 October when a large group of the deceased’s relatives and local residents gathered outside the hospital premises to protest the death and demand justice.
