Body of youth allegedly killed in Police custody exhumed

By Nishantha Kumara

The body of 25-year-old Nimesh Sathsara of Migahakiula, who is suspected to have died due to a police assault, was exhumed yesterday in the presence of Badulla Magistrate Nujith De Silva. He had died while in the custody of the Welikada Police.

Judicial Medical Officers (JMOs) from the Colombo Chief JMO’s Office, as well as JMOs from the Karapitiya and Uva Wellassa Medical Faculties, investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department, and officers from the Kandeketiya Police were present. The Additional Magistrate had ordered a fresh postmortem examination to be conducted by a three-member team of JMOs.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera had ordered the exhumation of the body following a complaint made by the deceased’s mother, Lekamwasan Liyanage Samanthi, and based on findings from the CID’s investigation into the incident.

A large crowd was present during the exhumation.