On January 11th, when Mr. Piyantha Anura Bandara was waiting near the bus stop to visit his son’s house in Kondeniya, three individuals approached him and threatened him, demanding he hand over two bags they claimed he had stolen. At that moment, he stated that he hadn’t stolen anything and asked to be taken to the police. These individuals then took him to the Mawanella Police Station in a three-wheeler.
After arriving at the police station, when one officer was taking him upstairs, another officer who was present asked why this person was brought in. The officer who brought him replied that it was regarding a theft and that such people should be beaten. Subsequently, police officers brutally assaulted him, ordering him to lie on the ground, hitting him with hands and feet, and stomping on him. Due to this assault, he became unable to walk, and one of his fingers was broken. Moreover, the stomping caused severe pain throughout his body.
Later, the police called his son and informed him that his father had been brought to the police station on theft charges. At this time, a female police officer told him to confess to the crime, threatening “I will be the one to beat you” if he didn’t. He pleaded his innocence and begged them to check the footage on the mobile phone. He was then taken back to the cell, where one of the three individuals who had brought him to the police station came and struck him on the cheek while threatening him to return the allegedly stolen goods. No officer intervened during this assault.
Subsequently, Piyantha’s brother arrived at the police station with several video evidences, after which he was released. After his brothers admitted him to Mawanella Hospital for treatment, a group of police officers reportedly came to the location and apologized to the victim, admitting their mistake.
On the 12th, he underwent several medical examinations and was also referred to a judicial medical officer who observed all the injuries and bruising caused by the assault. However, to date, no justice has been served for the injustice done to him.
