Whole of Gampola town on fire because of youth who died in lock-up.

The public suspicion which was stirred against the police on the occasion of the Hambantota youth who disappeared a few days before this however died a natural death after he was located. But because of a fresh incident of a youth committing suicide within the Pussellawa

The suspect 30 year old Raviraj Ravindran who was apprehended under the offence of illegal toddy-tapping was produced before courts and he has admitted guilty to the offence for having produced 750 litres of toddy and was subsequently directed by Helboda Courts for community service. But since he avoided this punishment he was once again issued a warrant and thus taken into custody. Accordingly a team of police officers from Pusellawa Police arrested the offender a second time day-before-yesterday (17) evening while he was in his house with the purpose of producing him before courts the following day.

Having been arrested without any personal problem or entertaining any issue of any form of fear so as to face death had surprisingly taken his life that night around 10 just a few hours after arrest by strangling himself with a Tee shirt in the lock-up. The Tee shirt which was tied to the edge of the rod towards the top was seen tied to his neck at the other end and the police officers later said that he was found dead in that condition. They had conveyed this information to the victim's home only after his body was taken to hospital. Whatever it is, the two police guards who were on night duty being unaware until all this took place is a matter that raises an element of speculation.

What relatives of the deceased youth say is that there is evidence that he had been assaulted by the police and that they suspect that he died as a result of such beating and subsequently had committed suicide. A brother of the youth has this to say: "A team of police officers who came in a three-wheeler to our home day-before-yesterday (17) at the time my younger brother was, assaulted him and took him away. Even when I went to police to see my younger brother I saw those in the police beating him. Later at about 10 in the night the police spoke to us and said that my younger brother had strangled himself in the police lock-up and had died. They told us that my younger brother had died only after taking him to hospital. Our brother had no reason to take his life as such. The deceased youth's mother too said that 'son's death is suspicious'.

Because of a protest launched by villagers in connection with the death, the Gampola - Nuwara Eliya main road was obstructed all throughout the day yesterday (18) due to this protest and as a result traffic had come to total standstill. Minister Palani Digambaram arrived in the presence of the protestors yesterday (18) with the idea of settling the issue and on a request made by the Inspector General of Police effected a transfer to Chief Inspector Mr. Kaluaarachchi, Officer-in-Charge of Pussellawa Police until such time as inquiries regarding this death comes to a close. He was thus transferred to Gampola Police Station. In addition, the two officers who were on night duty in charge of the lock-up were suspended from their duties. The magistrate who visited Pussellawa Police Station and subjected the police lock-up to scrutiny ordered that an autopsy be carried out in connection with the incident.

Under these circumstances the autopsy was conducted last night (18) by Mr. Prabath Serasingha, Specialist Judicial Medical Officer of Peradeniya Teaching Hospital and granted an open verdict by directing parts of the body to the Government Analyst without revealing as to whether the death has taken place because of strangulation or by assault. Several police teams have been deployed under the supervision of Police Superintendent in charge of Gampola District Mr. Samantha Wijeysekera

to commence investigations in connection with the death.

Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka Minister for Law and Order has issued instructions to the Inspector General of Police Mr. Pujith Jayasundera after this incident to take action to have CCTV cameras installed to cover lock-ups at police stations all over the island. In addition, according to an order of Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasingha, Inspector General of Police Mr. Pujith Jayasundera and all police officers of higher ranks have been summoned to Temple Trees this week. It is anticipated that a summary of steps would be called for in relation to measures taken by the Inspector General of Police to rejuvenate faith in the Police Force which had collapsed.