{"id":115533,"date":"2013-11-22T17:41:31","date_gmt":"2013-11-22T12:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=115533"},"modified":"2013-12-03T05:22:53","modified_gmt":"2013-12-02T23:52:53","slug":"sri-lankas-75-year-old-rape-victim-and-her-family-seek-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sri-lankas-75-year-old-rape-victim-and-her-family-seek-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka’s 75-Year-Old Rape Victim And Her Family Seek Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information\u00a0that a 75-year-old was raped and the officers of the Thalathuoya\u00a0police are protecting the perpetrator who, allegedly, has been\u00a0involved in a prior case. SV (75), a resident of
\nKirimatiya Estate, Nugaliyadda, Thalathuoya in the Kandy District was\u00a0alone in her house when the assailant entered through a window,\u00a0assaulted and raped her. SV and her family reported the matter to\u00a0the Thalathuoya Police Station but discovered that the officers of\u00a0that station are shielding the culprit and instead, allowing him to\u00a0threaten the victim and her family members.<\/p>\n

This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of\u00a0the rule of law in the country.<\/p>\n

CASE NARRATIVE:<\/p>\n

\"VR<\/a>

VR have since learned that the suspect used to
work at the houses of the police officers and helped them in their
personal matters. \/ File photo<\/p><\/div>\n

According to the information received, SV (75) is\u00a0residing at No ************ Thalathuoya in\u00a0the Kandy District. VR, a grandmother of 75 years of age, was\u00a0living alone as her five married children, three sons and two\u00a0daughters, moved to Colombo. Her husband, ******, died five years\u00a0ago. VR worked in an estate which was later converted to a farm by\u00a0the Elephant House Group of Companies.<\/p>\n

She was living in the Estate’s Line Room by herself and her grandsons\u00a0used to provide food for her. On 26 September, 2013, at\u00a011.30 pm\u00a0a\u00a0person entered her premises through a window and when VR saw a\u00a0light on in the room she went to investigate. Her assailant silenced\u00a0her by placing his hand over her mouth. VR identified the suspect\u00a0as Arumugam Ganeshan who was also living in the same area.<\/p>\n

VR fought with the man vigorously. She was able to bruise his\u00a0face until he overpowered the old lady and raped her. When VR\u00a0shouted for help the neighbors responded but Ganeshan was able to flee\u00a0the scene of the crime. Geethanjali, one of VR’s grand-daughters\u00a0found her lying on the floor with several wounds and with the help of\u00a0the neighbours she was taken to another house.<\/p>\n

The following day,\u00a027 September, one of her daughters, returned\u00a0home and took VR to the Thalathuoya Police Station (Kandy Police\u00a0Senior Superintendent of Police’s Division) and made a complaint.<\/p>\n

VR was then admitted to the Thalathupoya Government Hospital on\u00a0the same day and was treated until 3 October, 2013. However due to her\u00a0poor health she was re-admitted to the Thalathuoya Hospital on the 6\u00a0of October and was transferred to the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital on\u00a07 October\u00a0for further treatment and discharged on\u00a010 October. VR\u00a0was speechless for many days and suffering with a spinal injury.<\/p>\n

Arumugam Ganeshan was arrested by the Thalathuoya Police and produced\u00a0before the Magistrate of Kandy but was released soon after. On 30\u00a0September the accused threatened the family of VR. In particular\u00a0he threatened *******, one of the daughters of VR, with death if
\nthey proceed with the case. The accused previously raped another old\u00a0woman by the name of Thaiamma living in the same area. He was arrested\u00a0and the police officers settled the matter without producing him in\u00a0court.<\/p>\n

The accused complained to the police, saying that he was threatened\u00a0by VR’s family who, in turn, state that the complaint is baseless\u00a0and aimed at misleading the police investigation. However, when the\u00a0family members approached the police to make a complaint about the\u00a0threats made by the accused, the officers did not allow them to\u00a0proceed and refused to record their complaint. It is now apparent that\u00a0the police officers are acting on the complaint made by the accused\u00a0after the incident but not the complaint made by the victim.<\/p>\n

The relatives of VR have since learned that the suspect used to\u00a0work at the houses of the police officers and helped them in their\u00a0personal matters. Amongst other jobs he paints the houses of the\u00a0police officers and therefore it has become evident that they are
\nprotecting him.<\/p>\n

Further, the relatives learned that the investigating police officers\u00a0who recorded the statements of the doctors who treated the victim\u00a0intentionally did not record the necessary findings of the doctor in\u00a0relation to the act of rape. The officers intentionally failed in\u00a0their official duties to investigate and submit the necessary evidence\u00a0to the court for a successful adjudication process. Hence the victim\u00a0and her family feel that this is a blatant violation of her rights.<\/p>\n

As the police did not investigate the complaint of threats VR and\u00a0her family are in fear of their lives.<\/p>\n

VR and her family are pleading for protection for themselves and\u00a0their children. Furthermore, they are seeking speedy justice as this\u00a0alone will alleviate the threat and danger to the old woman and her\u00a0family.<\/p>\n

Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please send a letter to the authorities listed below expressing your\u00a0concern about this case and requesting an immediate investigation into\u00a0the case rape and the witness protection. The criminal as well as the\u00a0police officers who are having lethargic approach to investigate the\u00a0crimes must also be tried before a court of law for breaching the laws\u00a0of the country and also should be subjected to internal investigations\u00a0for the breach of the department orders as issued by the police\u00a0department.<\/p>\n

Please note that the AHRC has also written a separate letter to the\u00a0Special Rapporteur on violence against women on this regard.<\/p>\n

To support this appeal please click here<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:<\/p>\n

1. Mr. N K Illangakoon<\/p>\n

Inspector General of Police<\/p>\n

New Secretariat<\/p>\n

Colombo 1<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Fax: +94 11 2 440440 \/ 327877<\/p>\n

E-mail:\u00a0igp@police.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Mr. Sarath Palith Fernando<\/p>\n

Attorney General<\/p>\n

Attorney General’s Department<\/p>\n

Colombo 12<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0+94 11 2 436421<\/a><\/p>\n

E-mail:\u00a0ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Secretary<\/p>\n

National Police Commission<\/p>\n

3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers<\/p>\n

109 Galle Road<\/p>\n

Colombo 03<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Tel:\u00a0+94 11 2 395310<\/a><\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0+94 11 2 395867<\/a><\/p>\n

E-mail:\u00a0npcgen@sltnet.lk<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0polcom@sltnet.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Secretary<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission<\/p>\n

No: 165 Kynsey Road,<\/p>\n

Borella, Colombo 8.<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0+94 11 2694924<\/a><\/p>\n

Email:\u00a0sechrc@sltnet.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n

Asian Human Rights Commission<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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