Death of housemaid: SI, three cops further remanded till Oct 16

The Sub Inspector and the three Police officers arrested over their alleged involvement in the death of housemaid R. Rajakumari while being in Welikada Police custody were further remanded till October 16 by a Colombo Magistrate today.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala had earlier ordered an identification parade and the three suspect police officers and the SI were identified by the witnesses.

Thereafter, they were remanded till today and when the case was called today, the Magistrate further remanded them till October 16 as the investigations were not yet concluded.

During the identification parade three witnesses had identified the suspects.

The deceased R. Rajakumari, 41 years old, a resident of Badulla, was arrested on 11 May based on a complaint by her employer Sudharma Neththicumara, claiming that she had stolen gold jewellery belonging to her.

Rajakumari who was taken into Police custody died while in the custody of the Welikada Police. Her relatives and human rights activists raised suspicions, alleging that she had been subjected to torture.

The post-mortem report of the JMO ruled that death was due to hemorrhagic shock caused by damage to the deceased’s muscles after being assaulted with a blunt weapon. (T.Farook Thajudeen)