Senior Jaffna cop falls foul of HRC

April 8, 2012,

A senior policeman in Jaffna has fallen foul of the Human Rights Commission after he allegedly chased away HRC officials who went to investigate a case at the Jaffna police station.

According to Commission Chairman retired Supreme Court Judge Priyantha Perera, to make matters worse the officer in order to cover his wrong had charged the relevant HRC officers in the Jaffna Magistrate Court with attempting to enter the police station by force without identifying themselves.

He had, however later withdrawn the charge with court permission.

Justice Perera said it was a flagrant violation of the HRC Act as its officers could visit a police station at any time in connection with their duties.

The relevant police officer who was summoned to the HRC head office last week had been given a thorough dressing down and summoned again in two weeks for a further inquiry, he said.

Since assuming duties, the Chairman said he had ensured that the Commission functioned round the clock with a 24 hour telephone service for any one to bring to their notice any unlawful detention or torture taking place in any police station or anywhere else.

Citing another incident, he said they recently got a call one night that some people were being held illegally at the Mt. Lavinia police station. When they immediately visited the station they found two women and four to five men being detained and it was found that though there might have been some ground to take them into custody, they were being held without proper authorization. They had immediately got them released with a severe warning to the Mt Lavinia police not to repeat such acts.