Colombo to probe assault on Jaffna HRC officials

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 September 2004, 02:47 GMT]
Mr.Ruwan Chandrasekara, Jaffna regional co-ordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), was summoned to Colombo Wednesday amid reports that Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the HRCSL high command are to hold high level discussion regarding the assault on Mr.Chandrasekara and his colleagues at the Jaffna police station Monday by several policemen, sources said.

At the time of the assault, the HRC officials were trying to investigate a complaint from the parents of a missing youth. The parents complained that their missing son was arrested by the Police and held incommunicado at the main police station in Jaffna.

On Tuesday, Mr. Chandrasekara and his associate, Mr.Feroz, went with their counsel to Jaffna police station and made a complaint against the assault on them, sources said.

HRC sources said that officials of the rights commission are to launch a protest against the failure of the Government of Sri Lanka in taking action against policemen who assaulted the commission's officials Monday.

Meanwhile, the youth, Mr. Ratnasingham Chandramohan, 21, whose parents had complained to the HRC, was later on Tuesday produced by the police before the Jaffna Magistrate, Ms. Srinithi Nanthasekaram, and she remanded the youth till October 8, legal sources said.

Mr. Chandrasekara and Mr. Feroz Wednesday visited the Jaffna prison and recorded the statement of Mr. Chandramohan, HRC sources said.