Mr. MMD Aruna Nilupul Indika (39) of Welipenna, Kalutara District, was illegally arrested and severely tortured. Chili was applied onto his eyes and genitals. On 27 May 2013, he was arrested and tortured on the instruction of the lawyer Anoma Siriweera and her husband. The lawyer’s family had lost some items and suspected Nilupul Indika, who had done some interior decoration work at their house sometime earlier. Raveendra Pushapakumara and another officer from the Matugama Police arrived at Nilupul Indika’s residence at 3:30 pm on 27th May. They asked Nilupul to accompany them to the police station without giving any reason. He was kept at the police station until the following day and, at around 1pm, he was taken to the officers’ quarters behind the station, where he was forced down onto the floor. At that time there were three officers present, including Raveendra Pushapakumara. The officers then shouted at him, saying that he, Nilupal, should admit selling a stolen electrical grinder, or that otherwise the police would beat him so badly that he could never work again. Nilupul Indika refused, stating that he has not committed any crime. Then one of the officers put kocchi chillies (very potent) in a sock, crushed the chillies, added water and then poured the dripping chili into Nilupul’s eyes. While he was struggling in pain, the officers held him down. Later, the officers also used the chilies on his genitals and anus. He was tortured for several hours.
June 6, 2013