Why is the Police silent?

Some disturbing events occurred over the course of last week;especially the death of a youth who succumbed to injuries while in custody at the Welikada Police. The reason for his arrest and his death under mysterious circumstances has sparked outrage among the masses who are demanding justice from the apex institution that is dedicated to maintain law and order in the country. While Sri Lanka has a notorious past with regards to extrajudicial killings, recent incidents underscore the need to bring about stricter laws to punish perpetrators irrespective of their social status. The mother of the victim alleged that her son had complained that the cops were ‘troubling him at night’ and according to her, the victim’s clothes were recovered from a dustbin. 

The reason for his arrest had been illegal entry into a premises and when questioned, the Police had responded by saying that the victim expressed aggressive behaviour, banging his head on the wall and that he was transferred to the Angoda Mental Hospital where he subsequently succumbed to injuries. During the same week, an inmate at the Boossa Prison was hacked to death. Both these incidents showcase poor security for suspects and inmates while in custody. In this backdrop, how can we as citizens place our trust in the Police? 

Asela Weerasinghe 
Kottawa