FR petition allowed against SSP, wife, son in abduction, assault incident

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 September 2009, 09:15 GMT]
The three-member bench of Supreme Court Friday granted leave to proceed with the rights violation petition filed by Nipuna Ramanayake, a Malabe SLIIT undergraduate, against Colombo Crimes Division officers, its former Director Vas Gunawardena, his wife and son. Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justices Jagath Balapatebendi and S. I. Imam were members of the bench, legal sources said.

Petitioner has cited several police personnel including SSP Vass Gunawardana, his wife, son and the Inspector General of Police and Attorney General as respondents in his FR petition.

Petitioner Ramanayake in his petition said the 14th respondent Ravindu Gunawardena, son of SSP Vass Gunawardene too was a registered student at the SLIIT and always attended lectures accompanied by a group of police officers comprising the security staff allocated to his father, the first respondent Vas Gunawardena.

He further said on August 4 that he stopped over at a tea kiosk “Sunrich” which was in close proximity to SLIIT to have some refreshments and Ravindu within a few minutes on his arrival at “Sunrich”, harassed him and pointed him out to several individuals.

While he together with a classmate of his proceeded on foot to Isurupura Road, he was abducted by the said individuals in a police jeep and was shoved to the floor, punched and kicked.

A few seconds later, the jeep had come to a halt, the back door was opened allowing the 14th Respondent Ravindu to get into the jeep and Ravindu immediately proceeded to smash his face with a revolver, he said.

He was then blindfolded and brought to a house where his hands and feet were tied and left on the floor face down and a woman allegedly the 15th respondent, the mother of Ravindu had started kicking his face.

He alleged he was then stripped of his clothes. Thereafter he was taken to another location namely the CCD Headquarters at Dematagoda in a jeep and his blindfold was removed.

Thereafter a lengthy statement was recorded on his behalf allegedly admitting his involvement and association with a member of the underworld called “Olcott of Borella.

Then he was handed over to his parents who immediately rushed him to the Accident Service of the National Hospital.

The court ordered the respondents to file objections within six weeks and the counter affidavits, if any, within three weeks. The matter was fixed for hearing on February 26, 2010.

President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva with W. D. Weeraratne appeared for the petitioner.

Senior State Counsel Riyaz Hamza appeared for the IGP and the Attorney General.