Sri Lanka It's Happening

July 23, 2005

Over the past couple of decades the police have been rounding up all kinds of drug peddlers, murders and even small time thugs and giving them police uniforms. A gang of such uniformed thugs were seen in action on TV brutally attacking a group of villagers. This is not the first time that such brutality was caught on film. It will not be the last. But if any of these policemen end up in jail that will be a first.

The police reguarly arrest people for stealing coconuts or bread. Drug peddlers and murderers are never arrested. No policemen wants to arrest a fellow officer, or the don who pays his salary.

Every week at least one person dies in policy custody. Beating up suspects to extract confessions is the norm rather than the exception. No one bothers to or dares to complain.

Recently a person was mistakenly arrested and tortured. He filed a fundamental rights case. With in weeks the man was shot dead.

Posted by raditha at July 23, 2005 1:29 PM