On December 29th, around 6:30 PM, a neighbor called Ruwan Chamara while he was at his mother’s house. The neighbor informed him that police officers had arrived at his residence and were seeking him in connection with a motorcycle theft. The officers provided their contact number and asked to be contacted.
Subsequently, a relative of Ruwan called the neighbor’s provided number, inquiring about the reason for his needed presence, and informed that they would visit the police station the next morning.
On December 30th, at around 9:30 AM, while Ruwan and his relative were preparing to go to the police station, two plain-clothed police officers arrived on a motorcycle. They handcuffed him, forcibly put him in their motorcycle, and after traveling about a kilometer, stopped a three-wheeler belonging to the police station. Another officer then transferred him to this three-wheeler.
Afterward, they blindfolded him with a white shirt. After approximately an hour, they took him to an abandoned house in the three-wheeler. One officer began interrogating and beating him about the bicycle, showing him CCTV footage and claiming he was the perpetrator, despite his denials. They continued beating him with a stick, at one point forcing him to sit on the ground and stretching his legs to strike his lower body.
They then filled two 5L water barrels, re-blindfolded him, and transported him in a three-wheeler for about 20 minutes. They removed his blindfold in a forested area, stripped him, and continued beating him. They also poured water from the barrels over his head and blocked his nose.
Under duress, he was made to admit to the theft, though he maintained his innocence. They took him back to the abandoned house and continued the violent assault. Later, a senior police officer arrived and transferred him to the Puttalam Anti-Corruption Unit.
By then, his legs were severely injured, and he could barely walk. He was given only two Panadol tablets. They made him sit, recorded his details, and obtained his signature without allowing him to read the document.
Around 10 PM, they transported him to Puttalam Police Station. The next morning, they took his fingerprints and presented him to the Puttalam Magistrate’s Court around 10:00 AM. He was initially taken for identification parade, but due to the absence of witnesses, he was remanded and charged under case number 29219/24 for motorcycle theft.
On January 1st, 2025, he was brought to court for the identification parade. Since the actual theft suspect was identified, he was released on bail. The same day, after being admitted to Puttalam Hospital, a police officer approached him, recorded his details, and suggested compensation to prevent further action.
A medical professional has confirmed a fracture near his right leg’s lower body area. He has been hospitalized multiple times.
