Police suspects in Mannar torture, rape to be indicted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 December 2003, 15:57 GMT]
The Attorney General has decided to indict four of the six suspects in the Mannar torture and rape of two married Tamil women S.Sivamani and Vijikala by several police officials and soldiers in March 2001 while the women were being held by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Mannar Police, legal sources said.

State Counsel Mr. Riyaz Hamza last week informed of the AG's decision to the Supreme Court that the indictments would be filed in the Anuradhapura Magistrate Court next month against four suspects including Inspector of Police Mr.M.P.M.Suraweera and police constables Mr. M.Rajendra and Mr.D.B.Wimalaretna.

All were working in the SIU Mannar Police at the time of offence, legal sources said.

Two other suspects, Commanding Officer of the Mannar navy camp and officer in charge of the Mannar Police have been exonerated after investigation, the Supreme Court was further informed.

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by one of the two Tamil women Ms S.Sivamani came up for inquiry last Tuesday before a three-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Ameer Ismail, Asoka de Silva and Nihal Jayasinghe.

The petitioner Ms Sivamani, a mother of three children said in her Fundamental Rights application that she was arrested on March 19, 2001 along with her son, another woman Vijikala and her husband by the Navy personnel for allegedly having contacts with the LTTE. Later they were handed over to the SIU of Mannar Police.

While being detained at the SIU office the petitioner and Vijikala had been tortured and raped by police officials, the petition said.

The petitioner Sivamani has sought one million rupees as compensation and to take legal action against the suspects under the torture Act.

The further inquiry into the FR application was put off for February 3 next year, legal sources said.