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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 08:58:00
8 January 2024 12:01 am - 46 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The young boy was allegedly taken to the cubicle seen on the left to conduct the body check
- “My son was traumatized and was almost in tears. As a father I cannot keep my eyes and ears closed and then decided to write this message which was doing its rounds on social media”
- “We spent the whole of Friday (January 5) at the Police station recording statements. As civilians we are all in support of removing drugs off the street but that doesn’t mean law enforcement officers can simply harass civilians,” Saram underscored
- However, an inquiry had been launched following the incident while the Daily Mirror learned that the police officer in question had been transferred
On January 3, a WhatsApp message written by one Gerald De Saram revealed another incident of alleged police brutality on two teens. The incident had occurred when two youths, a boy
and a girl were stopped by officers at the Kollupitiya Police Station for a random check under the ‘Yukthiya’ operation. The family claims that the police had not only manhandled the boy but had forced him to strip his trousers and also his underwear. However, an inquiry had been launched following the incident while the Daily Mirror learned that the police officer in question had been transferred.
The Incident
Even though the police officers had initially checked the three-wheeler driver, they had then diverted their attention to the two passengers. According to Saram, the police officers not only asked the two teens to get off the vehicle but they have also conducted a body check on the boy in a rough and crude manner. “Since they were not convinced they had dug into my son’s pouch. He carries his phone, wallet and personal belongings including a pair of scissors. He’s a basketball player and he carries a pair of scissors to cut his nails. But the police officers have thought that he was carrying it for some drug-related activity. Thereafter they had taken him into a cubicle, had grabbed my son by his belt and had manhandled him while ordering him to strip. My son was petrified, bullied and traumatized into submission. Obliging to his orders my son had removed his trousers. The officer who was not convinced by this had then asked him to remove his underwear as well!”
“My son was traumatized and was almost in tears. As a father I cannot keep my eyes and ears closed and then decided to write this message which was doing its rounds on social media. The following day I got a call from the Kollupitiya Police Station saying that an inquiry had been launched into the incident. The officer who conducted the body check had been transferred but there were 3-4 other officers who were assisting him. An official police inquiry had been launched and we’re waiting to see the outcome.”
However Saram acknowledged the prompt action taken by the police to not only launch an inquiry but also transfer the officer who harassed his son. “We spent the whole of Friday (January 5) at the Police station recording statements. As civilians we are all in support of removing drugs off the street but that doesn’t mean law enforcement officers can simply harass civilians,” he underscored.
The Pair of scissors smelled of Hash: Kollupitiya Police
When contacted, Kollupitiya Police O.I.C., C. I. Dushmantha said that the boy was taken in for a checking as the pair of scissors smelled of hash. “The officers immediately took a photo of the scissors. We have been instructed to conduct a thorough body check on anybody we suspect, and this includes requesting the suspect to remove his underwear. Therefore we took him to a cubicle near the roadblock at Kollupitiya junction and asked him to remove his belt and checked his trousers. Thereafter we asked him to remove his underwear as well. Nothing was done by force and we were only following orders given to us.”
Family Denies Claims of Drug-Related Activity
Responding to claims by the Police, Saram explained that the pair of scissors had a little bit of rust and dirt and denied that it was any residue from hash. “There is no way that my son used this pair of scissors to cut hash and the Police is trying hard to confirm it. But in that case why did they release him? If they had their suspicions they should have submitted the pair of scissors to the government analyst for a second opinion. By the time the police officers diverted their attention to my son, a number of vehicles would have easily passed that roadblock, perhaps with drugs. Nothing adds up and this is a clear case of harassing a young boy,” Saram said in conclusion.
Taking to his X account, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles referred to the incident and said that “stern action would be taken against any wrongdoers to ensure accountability and justice.”
The family questions as to who could be held accountable when law keepers become law breakers in the country. Article 11 of the Constitution states that no person shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 12 states that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law.
Tissa Fernando Monday, 08 January 2024 12:58 AM
You cannot do anti drug operation unless you adopt harsh methods.
Patriot Monday, 08 January 2024 01:36 PM
I hope the police by mistake suspect you as dealing with drugs and strip and search all of your old and stinking orifices using police batons.
Bonny Monday, 08 January 2024 02:29 PM
Tissa, the retired, a frustrated police guy
Keith Fernando Monday, 08 January 2024 02:49 PM
You're an absolute moron. People like you are the reason why this country can't develop.
DW Monday, 08 January 2024 07:18 PM
What a stupid dumb statemet
Gb Monday, 08 January 2024 07:54 PM
All tissas statements are stupid and pro gov, even if its wrong, same as some dumb person named Nelmini welivita, there are people posting misinformation to try fool people
dinesh Tuesday, 09 January 2024 02:19 AM
are you retarded? or on someone's payroll?? 100% a pohottuwa
Neil Tuesday, 09 January 2024 06:37 AM
Not in the civilized world.
Neil Tuesday, 09 January 2024 06:37 AM
Not in the civilized world.
Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 10 January 2024 03:59 AM
For those who are against Yukthiya operation, remember that your sons and daughters are being consumed by drug dealers. Even if you may not mind that on the assumption that it is OK in the civilised world, the rest of the country need to live without fear of being subject to random robberies, attacks by these dealers and addicts. The rest of the country cannot pay for their medical bill too.
George Jayasuriya Monday, 08 January 2024 01:43 PM
I think that the Sri Lanka Police Officers are doing a brilliant job by taking action under Justice. Everyone in Sri Lanka should support Police Action. No one is above the law.
Mahila Monday, 08 January 2024 07:42 PM
............. AND none, meaning "NO ONE" Sri Lankan Citizen should be treated in a DEMEANING manner!!!??? Including anyone acting in reality acting as a "DRUG MULE"!!!??? The legal process to the best of my belief is and must be comprehensive to deal with it! There is no need to have Police decoys in Uniform enabling a Pseudo Examination for Prostrate Inflammation or Cancer of Passers-by, with an intrusive exploratory examination and Bullying!!!???
Voter Monday, 08 January 2024 01:43 PM
Two frauds Tiran and Deshabandu are playing election drama directed by Ranil Rajapakse
Nimal Monday, 08 January 2024 01:54 PM
These police dogs have become a law unto themselves.
ERAN Wicks Monday, 08 January 2024 02:05 PM
Most Saram's are crooks and scoundrels.
Jayantha Monday, 08 January 2024 02:07 PM
When you have an acting guy as head with human right violation. This is pretty normal. Instead of strengthning intelligence units to catch drug importers and politicians behind it. This is going beyond thelimit. Most probably after next election both Corrupt TA and DT will have a hard time. TA was once in jail too for Rada case.
Concerned Monday, 08 January 2024 03:27 PM
Jayantha is right. How the King is how people will be. When you have an IG who was ruled by the court as a person who violated Human Riights and a President who was rejected by his own consistency what can you expect ?
Akil Monday, 08 January 2024 02:32 PM
Haha! Go to all those night clubs owned by the big shots you can find enough drugs there rather than harassing the innocent public.
Moltoy Anthony Tuesday, 09 January 2024 12:30 PM
"Regected by his own CONSISTANCY"...?
Navi Monday, 08 January 2024 03:11 PM
All this halabaloo is because Grald de Saram's son? It exposed a flaw in Police methods. OICs of Police Stations must addressed this issue in their weekly Instruction Class. Drug menace is rampart among Youth from upper society to the down trodden. An example is Samantha Jude Jayamaha
Sokrates Monday, 08 January 2024 03:12 PM
Apart from the fact that the whole operation is amateurishly organized and only serves to secure the position of two criminals (Alles
Sandy Monday, 08 January 2024 03:12 PM
Nothing wrong even school children are taking drugs , then how can youngsters be left unchecked.
Mahila Monday, 08 January 2024 07:48 PM
You can check nothing wrong about that!!!??? The fact is that present day SL Police checks are very crude!!!??? Are initiated to satiate the infatuations of these rude individuals!!! That's what is wrong!!!???
People of Sri Lanka Monday, 08 January 2024 03:32 PM
When a election is coming up every time Rajapaksh come up with this kind of tactics to convince and cover up all there wrong doing. People are not foul's. After elections everything will be back to normal.
Hard Truth Monday, 08 January 2024 04:15 PM
Collateral damage
Chief of Gestapo Monday, 08 January 2024 04:58 PM
Sri Lanka is the only country in the world where corrupt Police officers are transferred rather than sacked. When corrupt PC's can't do their jobs they resort to harassment of the general public.
Disgusted citizen Monday, 08 January 2024 05:58 PM
A good excuse for the perverted cops to get their kicks. Got get rid of all these sick officers including thier head the Tiran Alles.
Tissa Fernando Monday, 08 January 2024 06:07 PM
@Patriot, Bonny and Keith Fernando, these three guys are expressing their opinion to protect their end customers. That is what I see in them. The boys and girls are the end customers and mini dealers. That is a fact so you have to search their hiding areas to catch them. Some may end up clean but what to do. Drugs are consuming the future of this country. You three morons and some other NGO bootlickers are only trying to protect the drug market.
Gb Monday, 08 January 2024 07:58 PM
These kids aren't the importers of drugs, the people who pay you to make stupid comments and divert attention are the ones who traffick
Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 09 January 2024 02:47 AM
I think "Gb" stands for "Gobbaya" . Any one who is not a thief or criminal would not mind security personnel checking on them. If you want to control the drug menance avoid being a "Gb" and support police work, they too are doing a risky job in this situation.
Jackie Tuesday, 09 January 2024 09:42 PM
Tissa Will you allow your son, daughter wife mother to be stripped in a cubicle before 4 men for having a pair of scissors. Why don't you preach to BAN import. The consequences of this will be most of parents who love their children will send them off to study abroad and NEVER RETURN.
Tissa Fernando Monday, 15 January 2024 08:45 AM
@Jackie, yes I will not mind if it comes to that. We get examined by Airport security. If you travel by Air in USA, we always get picked up in their so called random check. Can we protest against that? No way. So what is the big issue if the police here searches you.
Duminda Monday, 08 January 2024 07:29 PM
Another tele drama
Tintin Monday, 08 January 2024 07:50 PM
I think even we may go for Rodrigo Duterte 's method to combat drug traffiking and abuse to give a healthy environment to future generations. Otherwise disastrous
Stanley Monday, 08 January 2024 08:28 PM
Police salutes the crooked criminal politicians and harass the public. This is the sad current situation in Sri Lanka.
Rip Winkle Monday, 08 January 2024 08:34 PM
So it's become illegal to carry a pair of scissors in Sri Lanka? What happens if I have a pair of shears with me when I'm searched at a checkpoint? Buffoon minister and IGP.
mk Monday, 08 January 2024 09:34 PM
ohhh now comes these sad stories of harassment. it seems like everyone is so innocent and like saints. looks like parties with vested interests are starting murmur to prevent from getting caught.
Chrishain Tuesday, 09 January 2024 02:08 AM
Hope you'd get strip searched. Then you'd realise you moron.
Anti drug and fraudulent Tuesday, 09 January 2024 12:27 AM
Looks like so many here are connected to drug dealing and various fraudulent means trying to take cover under human rights. Some becoming super rich overnight by various fraudulent means are feeling the heat as they might be the next target oppose Yukthiya. Anyone with a decent growing up children wouldn’t oppose , I certainly wouldn’t because I want to protect my children from drugs. Further I want to bring up my children to be good citizens not earning money by fraudulent means!
Dee Tuesday, 09 January 2024 06:18 AM
Good job police! Weed them out one by one! Spare none! Might make a mistake here and there. Overall all the neighborhood vendors are now shivering. 3 wheeler parks are almost empty.
Terrence K Tuesday, 09 January 2024 06:43 AM
This anti drug operation is very good but operation of this exercise should be done meticulously without antagonising the public who have to be handled with care having a frame of mind without being suspicious that all the people are drug addicts. A person carrying a sicissor cannot be construed that he is a drug addict or a carrier. Always the Police should understand that until a suspect is tried out in a Court of Law and charged then only he becomes an accused. The high ups in the Police Department should ensure that the Police Officers in this operation are highly trained in this instead of mobilizing Police personnel from different stations who do not know a head or tail of the human rights of the public guaranteed under the constitution.
Neil Tuesday, 09 January 2024 06:46 AM
Civilized people know who the bootlickers are. Tissa Fernando is an uncivilized baboon.
Chandima Tuesday, 09 January 2024 06:52 AM
This is the first time in my 65yrs I have ever heard that a sportsman let alone a basketball player carrying a pair of scissors to cut his nails. I was a sportsman too and used to cut my nails after having a bath in my house. Two weeks ago a posh-looking boy along with his girlfriend whilst traveling in a three-wheeler from Mt. Lavinia was caught in Colpetty carrying "Ice" hidden in his underpants and socks. The information was given by our regular three-wheeler driver who drove them.
DOT Tuesday, 09 January 2024 07:02 AM
As an ordinary citizen I see good results from this operation. Better late than never! You cannot get a perfect answer for any such problems. Lets improve this!
Adwani Tuesday, 09 January 2024 08:16 AM
Poorly Sinhala Medium O Level wualified ralahamies are looking for Cas and Gold to steal. Fortunately, these incidents are highlighted. But before, after the Easter Attack was sponsored by Government according to former AG and while same checking took place, many complained about stealing money and gold by the so called checkers.
Ron Tuesday, 09 January 2024 02:21 PM
Police have a responsibility to act accordingly with specialy drug related issues need proper procedures civilions shouldn't carry any kind of unnesory equipment in bags pouch and wallets it obviously put anyone in suspension....
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