Arrest

ON 9 April, the Mannar court ordered the arrest of three police officers suspected of involvement in the rape and torture of Sivamany Veerakone and Wijikala Nandakumar in March. The court rejected a police application to extend the detention of the women and released them on bail. In an identification parade on 23 April, the women picked out four men who committed rape.

As demonstrations were held in many parts of the island throughout April, a number of human rights agencies, including Amnesty International, wrote to President Chandrika urging immediate action against the offenders. In late April, the three policemen and the naval officer were taken into custody.

Reports say that eight security force personnel attempted molest women at Korakallimadu village near Valaichenai in Batticaloa District on 8 April. They had also assaulted ten men in the village who attempted to save the women.

In early April, the Supreme Court ordered the release of Yogendran Vijitha who had suffered severe sexual torture at Negombo police station. As the Judicial Medical Officer confirms torture, the Attorney General’s Department has indicated that it will not represent the accused policemen. Widow M Nageswary of Navatkudah in Batticaloa was admitted to hospital after policemen attacked her on 21 April at her home for refusing to go into a room with them.


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