Haputale police have released a 29 year old man who is alleged to have raped a 14 year old girl without carrying out a proper investigation.
IGP Pujith Jayasundara
According to a complaint lodged by the girl’s parents, a bus driver, who hails from a wealthy family has been released by the police without even being produced before a magistrate on grounds that the victim’s family belongs to a minority.
According to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), the 14-year-old girl was abducted and raped by her school bus driver on 19th June 2016, and she was threatened to keep quiet or her parents and other family members would be killed. However, despite the threat, her family members filed a complaint with the Haputale Police Station, yet the case has not been investigated.
“The alleged suspect, who belongs to a wealthy family, was simply released, without him being produced before a Magistrate. The victim’s family says that as they belong to an ethnic and religious minority in the region, the police have not given them attention in their quest for justice. The case illustrates the collapse of the rule of law in the country,” AHRC said.
The victim and her family from a Estate in Haputale who are Tamils and ardent followers of the Roman Catholic region live within a small community in a tea estate that is surrounded, predominantly, by the majority Sinhalese people.
On the 19 June 2016, the victim was returning from the Roman Catholic Church at around 11 a.m. She traveled by bus about seven kilometers, and was walking home the last half kilometer, after getting down from the bus. “As the victim was walking home, a three-wheeler stopped and offered her a ride. The Victim knew the two men who were seated behind and therefore she got into the three-wheeler. The two men who were seated behind were the bus driver and the conductor of a private bus in which she used to travel sometimes to school. Students call the bus driver Mr. Gamini (29),” AHRC said.
To her surprise, the victim was not taken to her home but instead to the bus driver’s house. She had objected and questioned them and pleaded to them to take her home. “But the three-wheeler driver and the bus conductor left the victim with the bus driver. The driver forcefully took her into the house, where she had learnt that there was no one in the house. She was frightened and yelled for help. She went into shock and panic,” AHRC said.
She had shouted and made several attempts to run away from the house, but failed. The alleged suspect Gamini then raped her. After this, she was threatened not to reveal what happened to anyone. If she revealed the incident, she was threatened that her parents would be killed. Then the suspect dropped the victim near her house at around 3 p.m. With difficulty she walked to her home. She was in fear.
“Due to the fear that the suspect would harm her family, she kept the matter secret for few days but finally revealed it to her mother on the 7 July 2016. Immediately, the mother informed family members. Violet and her daughter then went to the Haputale Police Station and made a complaint,” AHRC said.
“On the same day, 7 July 2016, in the evening, several hours after the complaint was made, two police officers visited the house of Violet and brought the victim, her father, & mother, to the Haputale Police Station. Within several minutes, police officers brought the alleged suspect, and one of the two men also to the Police Station. The Victim identified the rapist and the other men who aided and abetted in the crime. In front of them, the suspects were put inside the police cell. Then the victim’s mother and her family came back home. But several hours later they learned that the police had sent the suspects home,” AHRC claimed.
Subsequently, on 8th July, the victim, her parents, and her brother went to the Police Station. The police recorded the victim’s statement. It was recorded in Sinhala even though she is not fluent in Sinhala. Statements of her parents were also recorded, and the police officers visited the crime scene, and she was admitted to the Diyatalawa Government Hospital on the same day at around 2 p.m. There the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) examined her. The JMO confirmed to the victim’s parents that she had been raped. On July 10, she was discharged. When she was discharged, the doctors confirmed that she was not pregnant.
The victim’s mother had later questioned the police officers how the alleged suspect Gamini had been released within several hours after he had been brought to the police. The police told the parents that the suspect was produced before an Acting Magistrate and released on bail. Then the mother inquired for the name of the Acting Magistrate and went to meet him, the Acting Magistrate had said that such a suspect was not produced before him. “Therefore, there is now serious suspicion that the suspect has not been produced before a Magistrate,” AHRC said.
*Editor’s note – “Gamini” is a given name by Colombo Telegraph
Libtard / July 14, 2016
UNP and JVP anti Sinhala zombies having a field day blaming the whole Sinhala community over one s**m-bag.
When one tamil terrorist destroy the whole country or one tamil wheeler dealer pilfers the central bank they instant point out that the whole tamil community isn’t at fault (which is correct). When one Muslim ministers destroys whole forests to settle his own community they conveniently forget the ministers religion. But when one Sinhala s**m rapes a child they are quick to blame the whole Sinhala community and even the country. If this isn’t racism what is?
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Joey / July 16, 2016
Dear Libtard: No body is blaming the Sinhalese community for the rape. But you are damn right the blame is on the entire country and entire unity govt composed of entire Sinhala parties.The victim could easily have been even a Sinhalese. The crux of the matter is the response of the authorities. The rotten police released the accused without producing in court. The Sri Lankan police known for torture all over the world, in fact tortured this child victim and threatened her not to reveal the perpetrator and ordered her not to reveal anything to the medical officer. Is this the type of country you are proud of, and not wanting to do anything about?
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Shamil / July 14, 2016
Sri Lanka has no future and will be destroyed completely by Tamils very soon.
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Paul / July 14, 2016
Only people destroying the country are the racist Sinhalese government armed forces/police, establishment and a largely racist Sinhalese population. You are a very good example.
From the time of independence the Sinhalese have constantly committed violence against the island’s Tamil population. Most of it sponsored and encouraged by all Sinhalese led governments including the current one and the armed forces and police.
They have denied Tamil education employment use of their language( like in the present case writing the statement in Sinhalese a language they were not fluent instead of Tamil as the law demands) They have stolen their home farms and lands, periodically raped looted killed and committed genocide and war crimes on them, that the UN is now forced to investigate.
The Tamil population in the country has been reduced from around 26-28% at the time of independence to just 15% within 60 years. Around 300000 innocent Tamil civilians deliberately killed, 147000 in May 2009 and one million Indian origin estate Tamils made stateless and forcibly repatriated after living in the island for more than eight generations and earning most of the foreign exchange and another million indigenous Tamils chased out of the country largely to the west.
So far like the current case not a single Sinhalese has been brought to task for all this anti Tamil war crimes, that has been committed by the state armed forces/Police and individual Sinhalese and when Tamils demand justice you have the audacity to blame the victim and state we are destroying the country.
It is the racist Sinhalese state establishment armed forces/Police and population that are destroying the country. If you cannot respect us. our humanity and just rights we do not want live under this artificial unitary state called Ceylon/Sri Lanka that the British colonials and later Sinhalese racists imposed on us and want our ancient Tamil Eelam back. The British had no right to have amalgamated our lands with such a racist barbaric population and made us a minority in the whole island and then left us at the mercy at the hands of bunch of racist goons, largely descended from low caste Indian Tamil imports but claiming a fake Aryan origin, with no federal setup or minority protection.
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sanchay / July 14, 2016
Shamil, would you mine giving some arguments for your statement?
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Burt / July 15, 2016
Your asking feathers from a tortoise: you cannot be serious.
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Tamil from the north / July 15, 2016
Racist [Edited out] Shamil is back at it again. Only people who are ruining this country are racist goons like you.
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Ken / July 15, 2016
This has nothing to do with race and religion. More to do with money and influence and the corrupt police force in this government. There is no leadership and the country is lost.
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Ripvan W / July 31, 2016
Ken
I would like to believe what you say, namely, that this has nothing to do with race or religion – particularly race.
You must be a blessed person – not to have felt the vulnerability of being a minority especially when facing the half educated force wielding enforcers with the so called law also behind them.
Probably money has once again spoken decisively in this case, but you are being soft in not hearing the other voices at play.
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Samuel Jayaweera / July 15, 2016
After the current took over the office- we dreamt of getting to see all the good way around – but what tangible changes he has made it already ?
Can anybody please tell me what changes he made to the system ?
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Simon De Silva / July 15, 2016
Can you Mr IGP please teach mad Mahinda Rajapakshe about his stand today ? The man has still been suffering from his defeat – intoxicated by power he has been out of conscience to this date.
He is former president -now an elected MP to current parliament.
But him to send the message of congraduations to newly elected PM in UK, prior to the incumbents congratulatory message to her – clearly shows the all unethical manner the fomer president of srilanka behaves. He may be making every effort to show even today he is the 1st citizen of srilanka.
The kind of behavoiurs we have never noticed in entire history of lanken politics.
This man Rajaakshe has been behaving so ridiculously – betraying the srilankens as no other politicians did in lanka all times.
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Samuel Jayaweera / July 15, 2016
It is just that medmulana born man knows nothing but to behave uncivlized.. his acts betray this nation. Not many in this nation would want to behave so – but these bastards continue theirway of life betraying entire folks…. CBK is very right call .. uncultured, unethical.. rascals… not only CBK, but also anyone knows who they really, would go on saying.. respectless buggers
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Analyst / July 15, 2016
Shamil the Moda Minissu
Don’t you know you Racists have systematically destroyed our Srilanka which is yours and mine , This country never prospered when the colonials Ruled .Firstly the Portugese ,followed by Dutch East India Company, and then the British.
We did flourish during the British Rule with English Language Education ! Good Schools along with our world Famous Tea Production, Rubber and Coconut Cultivation. We were among the World Exporters . Our country produced Learned people with high Education which were Recognisable throughout the world.
LOOK NOW SHAMIL STUPID , WHAT DO YOU SEE OF SRILANKA AND SRILANKANS WORLD WIDE.
OUR PASSPORTS ARE NOT RECOGNISED ANYMORE , OUR EDUCATION IS NIL , NOTHING TO SPEAK ABOUT.
THE SINHALA BUDDHISM PARANOIA CAUSED ALL THIS.
THAT STUPID RANTING on the YouTube OF A SO CALLED PRESENT DAY DOCTOR EDUCATED IN THE 60s to 70s in Srilanka , Brother of a Junior Minister of present day government sounds just like your RANTING ON CT.
THAT RACIST DOCTOR UNHAPPY WITH THE WORLD AND THE WELL KNOWN NHS SERVICE BECAUSE OF HIS SINHALA MENTALITY.
HE WAS EMPLOYED BY A PRIVATE BMI TO DO PAIN INJECTIONS.
HOW DOES IT SOUND LIKE TO YOU RACISTS,
GO ON DESTROY MY COUNTRY.
How can you realise , you people have only tiny bit of Grey Matter within the thick skull.
You continue with your hate at the end you will see a destroyed nation with poverty and divided.
Look around you first before you look out side SLanka. The countries which creates Hate and inequality within the country have never prospered .
That’s the Fact The Fools like you will never learn.
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Hangman / July 16, 2016
What exactly are you Shamil? This article is about the rape of a young woman. What has race got to do with anything? The rapist and the Constable should be severely punished. Get a life!
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CITIZEN / July 14, 2016
Money and influence may have played a major role with the Police of the area. But, the new IGP, being an Officer & a Gentleman, will do the needful to punish the criminal and take effective action to discipline the corrupt Policemen because of whom justice was denied to the innocent victime.
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Bensen Berner / July 14, 2016
Here is the case of a teenage girl who is poor, a Tamil and a Catholic. The Head of the police to live up to his name for what it is worth should look into this matter immediately in bringing redress to this family.Bensen
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justice / July 14, 2016
There is a rape every 90 minutes in Sri Lanka.
http://www.ceylontoday.lk/90-94919-news-detail-a-woman-is-raped-every-90-minutes.html
Even tourists are not spared.
http://www.therepublicsquare.com/politics/2014/03/rape-sexual-violence-poisoning-sri-lankas-south/
We as a nation,should be shamed.
In this case, justice has not been done. Our police do not believe in justice, for all.
No woman will visit any police station alone, especially at night.
We meanwhile, have enshrined religion in our constitution!!!
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Burt / July 15, 2016
Acknowledging that a rape happens every 90 mins and being ashamed of it is accepting that there is a problem.
This does not help the next Girl/Woman that is raped and has to carry that agony through out her life.
So what are we doing as a society? For everything else we are ready to protest, specially Buddhist monks. Take a random sample of ten protests and see who is in front.
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kandy / July 14, 2016
It appears that the AHRC has not obtained the full- report before publishing the same. they should have checked the court register(a public document) to see whether Police had registered a “B” report in Magistrate’s court and verify the matter.they simply say acting magistrate denied the same. on the other hand if the suspect have been enlarged on bail it is totally a judicial matter where as several matters are considered in granting bail to a suspect. ( granting a bail is a critical matter in legal fraternity as many rights groups such as AHRC alleges people are unnecessarily kept in remand prison) 2. the ethnicity or religion is nothing to do with this real case… rape is a crime which is committed against any girl irrespective of race or religion ( eg Seya’s murder case-victim is a Buddhist)
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Sinhala Banda / July 15, 2016
Just avoid your legal mumbo-jumbo. Not interested to listen to the procedures adopted by a highly corrupt judicial system in the country. What matters is the severity of the case. Don’t you understand girl is fourteen years old – hence according to your mumbo-jumbo she is a “minor’. It is a heinous crime, Sinhala- Buddhists do not have to put-up with your crap and don’t as usually quote preceding cases to justify the lethargic and inappropriate action of the police. Because of a this predator, entire Buddhist nation is maligned. Who gives a damn about AHRC, this dirty bugger would have been castrated if it has happened under the rule of Sinhala-Buddhist kings. That is a punishment that we the Sinhala-Buddhist can accept proudly.
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thrishu / July 15, 2016
Why should the suspects HR should be of a higher priority over the HR of the victim? Such crap is not acceptable to a civilized society.
Those who take away and violate the HR of another citizen forfeit their own HR, PD. They had a choice to behave or not to behave as per civilized guide lines. If misbehaved, then they cannot later find shelter under HR.
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Nimal Maharage / July 14, 2016
Mara, his two sons, and cohorts in Tangalle also well known to have raped poor girls from villages. Yet, no one complained and prevented their way to parliament and provincial seats.
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sr / July 14, 2016
Nimal Maharage
The cat is out of the bag.
It’s a fact now that you have a thorough knowledge about raping poor village damsels by Mara, his two sons and cohorts.
Please go to the police station and complain without waiting for somebody else to do that as you’re well aware of it according to your own words.
You’d been a member of that gang? I wonder.
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RA RA RASPUTIN / July 14, 2016
What a waste of bandwidth this achige kola ,son of nondi johnson and gong thamabili kade nona – KA Sumanasekera
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srinath.gunaratne / July 14, 2016
Did not IGP tell that he was bringing a new code of conduct in place for the police?
May be this is the new procedure!
My sympathy to the family and the agony that girl goes through!
These pigs must be added to a sex offenders register and must be neutered if necessary!
The day Sri Lankan police become a civilized law enforcement agency, Pigs will fly.
Personally I do not have any friends in the police and never want to have one and never invite one to the house. Do it on your own peril!
Criminals and most of the police, both are below humanity.
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Sinhala Banda / July 14, 2016
Mr. IGP, this is an unspeakable crime. You have to take immediate actions and punish the dirty bugger without further delay. This is the time to prove who you are?
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sr / July 15, 2016
You’ve to be conscious Mr. IGP; culprits should be apprehended and be treated deservedly but there’s a thing to be taken into the consideration.
There’s a possibility for a poor lass to be intimate with a strong with great expectations with encouragement from peers and when their target is missed may resort to making rape charges.
This’s Sri Lanka.
The JMO’s decision that it’s a rape may be controversial and can be challenged.
Parents visiting magistrate is unethical and interfering?
It’s that, that arouses doubt.
AHRC; you’re too early to intervene.
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Lanka Watch / July 14, 2016
If this story is true, and media report is authentic ,its a shame on the Police to have released the culprit without going through the normal formalities and why the IGP did not arrange to re arrest the rapist when the truth surfaced. How come there is no action from the higher ups.
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Burt / July 15, 2016
If this is true the officers that handled this case and the OIC should be fired and the SP or DIG in charge of the area should step down.
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Lone Wolf / July 15, 2016
Lanka Watch,
“If this story is true, and media report is authentic ,its a shame on the Police to have released the culprit without going through the normal formalities and why the IGP did not arrange to re arrest the rapist when the truth surfaced. How come there is no action from the higher ups.”
There are very few details in this article. There should be a police investigation and the police and court should follow the law. It is not clear why the accused have been released. There should be information on possible bond and next court date. These are public information.
A police complaint does not mean that the accused are guilty. According to the JMO the victim was raped but the JMO has not identified who did it. It is for a judge to decide who raped the girl. The victim and her mother might accuse innocent men. The police and general public should not be allowed to decide who is guilty.
For the IGP to act he has to know of a problem. I don’t think that he receives report on all the crimes in all of the country. This is just one of the numerous rape cases.
In case the accused have been released against the law the IGP should act. If he does not the case can be taken to the National Police Commission.
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Leonver / July 14, 2016
How come the priest of the Catholic Church is not involved in pursuing
this case!?. Probably a Sinhalese.
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Mallaiyuran / July 15, 2016
Only way is to Tamils is going alone. What happened to Vidya? Our UNP heavyweight Rossy Senanayake organized the protest! Saranya ?
Only way is to Tamils is going alone.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/rape-murder-of-another-school-girl-in-jaffna/
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anotherbuddhist / July 15, 2016
I don’t condone rape of any person. And I am horrified by the inaction of the police. The police that has excessive powers under this government. What is not a surprise is the outcry because the victim was from a minority and perpetrator was a Sinhalese! Was there such outcry when Tamils rapped girls in the north and authorities did nothing? All accounts this is still going on! So stop seeing everything in the communal divide frame unless you want to take advantage of this!
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Shohorab / July 15, 2016
You have missed the whole point. The outcry is due to alleged favourism by the ones who are supposed to protect and paint justice.
We have a habit of hanging on to what touches our heart. Seems that this racism part has touched you.
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anotherbuddhist / July 15, 2016
I said I am horrified by the inaction of the police. The police under Yahapalana has more powers. So it is you who is not getting the point.
There was no such outcry when little girls aged 7 years were rapped and killed as they happened to be Sinhalese. There is an issue with rape on Sri Lanka at the moment. It can only be dealt free of the communal divide and playing into current political climate of division.
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Shohorab / July 15, 2016
14 year old girl has been raped. Comments are awesome. Just awesome.
1. The Tamil community will destroy Sri Lanka. How? By getting raped?
2. Sinhalese girls also get raped! Of course you fool, there is no racism for rape. But a rapist will use racism, money, influence or what ever he could muster to get out.
3. B Report! Errm, everyone knows about B reports. You think the human rights group or anyone involved wouldn’t know that?
Good god gentleman, a little girl, just 14 years old has got raped. Do you know the repercussions? If it was YOU who got raped would you speak the same? (If dont want to align this to your daughters or sisters).
No Cheers.
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Nosey Parker / July 15, 2016
If correctly reported , this is a classic case of the rule of law not being applied equally to all citizens . Sadly the alleged victims’ ethnicity and religion have been made use of to bring a different twist to this tragic story .
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Tax Payer 2 / July 15, 2016
Mr. IGP, This is your testing time. Get the suspect arrested, if the story is correct.
If you don’t then very soon not only tamils but the majority sinhalese too will experience
this sort of barbaric experience.
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Hangman / July 16, 2016
What the hell is this you idiots? this article is not about RACE. It’s about the RAPE of a young girl and the inaction of the police force. When it comes to money, politicians and power, the Police take a back seat approach no matter what race the victim is. All of you get real. RACE is not the issue here.
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bernardkdasa / July 16, 2016
My request to all who contributed to not to dilute the main issue of rape of a minor adding irrelevant aspects such as a sinhala man raping a tamil girl this aspect becomes relevant if these facts influenced the execution of justice by the Police My proposal to HRWA IS TO explore avenues for legal acyion against the police woman/IGP/GOVT. for damages for the victim. Thereis no point in our reaching for each others throat on irrelevant issues We have to ensure execution of justive against the culprit and securing damages for the victim. Thank you.BKDASA
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Upul / July 16, 2016
Is the Prime Minister busy playing pocket billiards ? He can call for an explanation from one of his 100+ idiots, he calls ministers! He just might not know which idiot is responsible for law and order.
We were recently told they needed luxury automobiles because they travel far and wide, serving US.
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