Gokaralla police commits torture

On the 4^th July 2005 at about 8 a.m. in the morning I went to my aunty’s house. She resides in a house 1km away from our house. Two sons of my aunty, two of my elder brothers and a son in law of my aunty went to take sand for building the house of her son. They went to the near by lake. They take sand with the legal permission.

 At about 11 o’ clock in the afternoon we drank tea. After that at about 2 o’ clock we went to have lunch in my aunty’s house. The meals were ready but we didn’t eat. At that time a try shaw came. There were four police personnel. They came and asked me about “ choppe” . I told them that it was my pet name which used to call me when I was a child and told them that my name is Susantha. I identified two of them who were from the Gokaralla police station.

 After that they took me to the try shaw saying just go. There was another person in the try shaw whom they arrested. Police called him “ Joni” . I was frightened when I was arrested among the others. They put me in to the trishaw and taken to the Kumara’s house and arrested him. Then they took us to the Somarathne’s house and arrested him too. SI Ellepola told Kumara to hold a coconut tree in the Somarathne’s house. and assaulted him with a Giniseria pole. At that moment Kumara screamed saying “ don’t hit me I didn’t have anything” . Somarathne too showed a injury in his neck to the police officers. But they didn’t hit Somarathne.

 SI  Ellepola assulated my knees with the same pole which he used to assault Kumara. I was surprised and didn’t know what was happened to me. I felt very painful at that time.

 After that they took us to the road side. Joni and another police officer went by a bus. We were taken to the Tissa hotel by a trishaw.

 Police officers kept Kumara, Somarathne and I closer to a hotel and went to a room in the hotel. I saw that those officers borrowed some beer bottles. I saw the waiters borrowed food also. After an hour they came outside.

 The police officer named Perera went to the hotel before us. This officer came after taking meals and took me behind the trishaw. He asked whether I was called “Choppe”. I said “yes” . At that time he slapped my cheeks 5 to 6 times and put me in to the trishaw. They took Somarathne, Kumara and I to the Gokaralle police station by a trishaw. They kept me hard to the place where baffles was joint in the trishaw.

 After that they took me to a room  in the police station. One police officer who was in uniforms told that the student of baby brought and assaulted me heavily with a Geneseria pole. At that time my ears, back and legs were very painful. I shouted and said don’t hit me.

 After that the police officer named Perera brought me closer to himself and showed his hands and assaulted my ears saying “ Are you giving barrels or otherwise I will take them”. Why he was hitting me my ears were senseless.

I asked some water. After that they showed me a tap in the outside. I went with difficulty and drank water. I was put in to the cell again. Kumara and I were beaten again. But they didn’t hit Somarathne.

After that I was laid on the floor of the cell my head was kept on my hand. That time I sensed cold to my hand. Then I saw my ear was bleeding. The other ear was also bleeding. Kumara called a police personnel near the cell and said that my ears were bleeding. That police personnel told him to say it in the officers who brought me.

 After that 8.00 p.m. in night SI Ellepola and Sagent Perera came and asked what was happened to me. I was afraid and said I didn’t know what was happened my ears were bleeding. They took me outside the cell and flashed the tourch and inquired . After that they said an insect was broken.

 After some time they took me to the Polgolla hospital by a try shaw. SI Ellepola said something to the doctor. I didn’t understand. The doctor had seen my                      said there was a damage in my ears. After that he had written some drugs on a piece of paper and gave to SI Ellepola and told him to buy them from the pharmacy. But I didn’t even get a panadol. Again I was brought in to the police station and put in to the cell.

 At that night my elder brother and friend came to see me. I felt difficult to speak with them. At that time I felt very sad. Kumara told them I was bleeding  from my ears as a result of the assault.

 Next day in the morning my elder brother brought me tea. Same day morning around 8.00 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. I was released on bail. SI Ellepola said that a case was filled against me alleging possession of a bottle of arrack. He further said we paid the fine and it was not necessary to come to courts.

 They took my signature when I was given bail. But they didn’t record a statement at any time.

 Same day my mother and my friend came to see me. I went home with them. At about 2.00 p.m. I went to the Kurunegala hospital with them. Around 4.00 p.m. in the evening the admitted me to ward number 25. I was in the hospital for five days and got medicine.

 The doctors said that my ear drums were damaged. They also gave me medicine to apply on my back and legs. I was afraid when I heard that my ear drums were damaged and I will lost my hearing.

 After five days I was discharged and came home and made complaints to the Assistant Superientendant of police. After that I have gone to the human rights organization called Janasansadaya.

 After sometime I have a pain in my right shoulder. At that occasion doctors said this is happened because there is a block in my nerves as a result of the assault.