Police brutality at its worst…
By Cassandra Mascarenhas
A shocking incident of brutality was captured on tape by a cameraman attached to Telshan Networks Pvt. Ltd. Thursday afternoon showing video footage of a policeman and one other beating to death 26 year old Balawarnan Sivakumar in Bambalapitiya.
Sivakumar, a resident of Ratmalana was said to be of unsound mind. The mentally disturbed individual was clubbed and forcibly drowned in the sea in Bambalapitiya on Thursday.
The shocking video footage shows Sivakumar, being beaten mercilessly even as he begged his attackers to stop — as he ran into the sea to escape them. But the policeman and another in civvies followed him into the waters continuing to assault the defenceless and unarmed man with thick poles until he was beaten to the ground and drowned in less than six feet of water.
A montage of the assault. Bottom pics show the body floating Pictures courtesy of Telshan Networks (TNL)
Mental illness
Sivakumar, was suffering from a mental illness and had been admitted at the Angoda Hospital numerous times and was under medication for his ailment.
He used to loiter around the railway track and throw stones at vehicles passing by including sometimes the trains. After an individual who had his car damaged by some of the stones thrown at his vehicle had lodged a complaint at the Bambalapitiya Police Station, the police were despatched to look into the matter.
At the time, on Thursday, a train had stopped after the man pelted stones at it. When commuters tried to approach Sivakumar in an attempt to stop him, he had pelted stones at them as well after which he was chased by people and police who had arrived at the unruly scene. Sivakumar sought refuge in the sea.
Clubbed by police officer
The video clip taken of the incident by TNL shows the victim being clubbed by a police officer who stripped to follow him into the sea and another civilian. The video clip shows images of this police officer, since identified as a constable attached to the Bambalapitiya Police Station clubbing Sivakumar to death.
On Friday, October 30, the policeman wanted in connection for the murder surrendered.
Police spokesman DIG Nimal Mediwaka told The Sunday Leader that inquiries were being conducted into the matter.
“The case has been taken out of the Bambalapitiya police and handed over to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) for further investigation. The others involved in the incident will also be apprehended soon,” he said.
Deaths in custody said to be mure than 23 this year alone,and noone held accountable for same by magisterial inquiry as revealed by a police spokesman recently,has bred a new breed of murderous [olicemen who are encouraged by the resuliting impunity in the country. Sri Lanka is now a Police State, and according to the victims of state repression, may also be called a Terrorist State.
This is self defence! A mad man with stones as ammunition. His death resulted by drowning. he shoudl have learned to behave or stayed in Angoda or Jaffna.
Peter you are a disgrace to te Colombo Chitty Community.
Where is your catholic up bringing sense of mercy and justice – probably in the gutter and thats where you too must stay
I am not a Christian and I think that the Judeo Christians are at the bottom of all the problems of the world. There have been rail disasters with people throwing object to fast moving trains and an actus reas allows people causing danger to other people’s lives to be taken out. The LTTE was supported by the Catholic Church and weapons and arms were found in Churches. What have you got to say about the Sinhalese cvilians who were killed?
I want this madman & a disgraceful human being, peter casie chetty traced through his email & IP address & arrested for trying to disturb communal harmony, The Sunday Leader should have had better sense than to publish this rubbish from him, block his ID
My adress if you want is 20 Reeds Road Liverpool.
Ohi, cruel Chetty. Are you a member of the damn Police force.
Peter is a cruel,evil, destructive person. He should go to Angoda instead..
Have you seen a rail disaster or a incident where a mad man has caused untold damage. The life of one mad man will not change my life.
Peter sounds like you are a government puk kolla.
its not problem he could die boz HE IS TAMIL
You have got to learn a little abot the Colombo Chetties. We are Colombo Chetties and not Tamils. Do not display you ignorance.I maintain that a madman throwing stones at a train could have cause damage and cost the lives of a lot of people if one of his stones hit the engine driver. I suppose if the police had not got him and one of your own were on the train – you would have been singing a different tune.
Peter Mahathayo, You are one of the fortunate idiots in this country who can still appear on fake name and creed. Unfortunately Sri Lanka has to bear not only you but also the curse born by you. It is time for you to vanish to limbo before wrath of God comes upon you. Oh. God..! please forgive this grasshopper…!
This murder is very sad but not shocking in light of the thousands of atrocities committed ever since Mr Rajapakse assumed the all powerful presidency. I am sure that all TRUE buddhists are ashamed of all these violence let loose against unarmed, innocent and helpless citizens of Sri Lanka by the very people who are supposed to protect them.
What is the similarity between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan Police? The answer- both are terrorists.
Have been reading the comments – Peter Casie Chetty – please remember that this could be you in a similar position – your comments are meant to whip up hatred. You should be ashamed of yourself….that you actually make public such views. Bigoted and hatred….hasn’t this country suffered enough because of people like you???? what ever religion you profess is a sham! shame on you…..!!!!!!!!!!
You have not read the article nor understood anything. The mad had cause damage. he could have cause death of the comuters if the driver had been incapacitated. Have you thought of that?
shame police killed a Tamil minority mentally retarded person in the city amidst of thousands onlookers severe action shoud taken if TNL didnt vedeo
incidence ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,??????
I was shocked to see this video. I was not surprised about the Police brutality in Sri Lanka. What I was shocked about are the people who were watching this. Not one right minded person could go forward and stop this. This shows the mentality of the most Sri Lankans. Punishment for Throwing stones by a mentally handicap is club to death. It was clear on the video that the person is begging with his palm together. No courts or law, case closed. What is even surprising is that they didn’t even take the dead body ashore. Left it like a dead dog. They picked up next day from some other location. A small comment on Pater’s Statement: You should be ashamed yourself. And your parents should ashamed to have a son like you.
Well done Sri Lanka…! First of all, we wish to place on record our heartiest thanks to the gutty video man for filming this act of heartless to the whole world. Secondly, we thank all private TV institutions for telecasting this to the nation while state media was dumb, tried to hide with a blind eye. Thirdly, we wish tell the public that witnesses the scene, they will go down in the history of this nation as the cowards of the century. We also wish to thank the IGP for his irresponsible office and service to the nation and say good bye gifting this video as a token on his retirement. We also like to send few copies to Monks and clergy’s of other faith to watch and have some pleasure when they relax doing nothing. We also wish to send one copy to Gota so that he can be a proud man seeing his boys doing great. Last but not least, a copy to Nobel Foundation in support of our nominee “MR” for the most prestigious price when he returns from Lumbini. God Bless all.
Well said Parakrama D. Very good assessment of a great nation.
Shame on Sri Lanka, MAN.!….this not the first occasion you bloody Police put the nation in to “Shame”. It is Brutal murder and we as a country fearlessly giving the message to the world community that we are nothing but murders. Now the question is, can anyone say this video is Fake? Or can any scientist, analysis or any expert could confirm this as fake. Nobody can ever do that, not even the guy from Australia who came forwarded to rescue us from that exsiccation video. We have to accept that we are living in midst of “Devils” although we talk of rich culture and spreading Buddhism in big way and sending monks to other western countries to promote dharma while there is cold blood in our own backyard. In 60`s, 70`s and 80`s it was only the news paper and Radio and TV very seldom carried horrific news to the whole world. But be aware, now the time has changed and therefore anything to reach anybody in anywhere takes just few seconds the most. Thanks to http://www.com , we see thing as we saw. God bless Sri Lanka..!
This brings nothing but tears to anybody who watches this video. This is an absolute clear picture of volition of human rights. This should and must go to Geneva and where ever it should reach where Sri Lanka human rights are been questioned or challenged. Samarasinghe, we know you will come up with something to reduce the gravity. But look for yourself, this happened in broad day light where tens of hundreds of people who were helplessly watching and unable to resist. It is the bad luck for the victim because nobody had been here like the people of Angulana who had the guts to retaliate to police brutality. We can see the guy pleading putting his hands together, but no way other than assault. Police, is this the way you handle people especially mentally sick and what is this country? Where is this noble teaching? Where are these selfish monks? Are they only there to eat and sleep? Is this a Buddhist country or a paradise of barbarians? I am ashamed to call myself a Buddhist. Buddha statue is at every nook and corner, TV starts and ends saying PRITH. Take all that statues away, don`t insult Load Buddha. Human life has gone below the value of a dog. Gota , you must resign forthwith for administering a barbaric department and MR too is part of this because you want murders and murder to prevail in the country . This is one of the things that we saw but God knows how many like this are there behind our back and gone under the carpet. This is the curse for this country you called “Dharma Deepaya”
AS A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST,I PROMOTE AND DENOUNCE ALL KIND OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.SRI LANKA HAS A BLACK RECORD FOR BRUTALITY AND PROMOTE CRUELTY AGAINST PEOPLE.OTHER MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLINGS AND CRUELTY ARE BUDDHIST MONKS WHO ARE NOT BUDDHIST AT ALL.UNDER THE COVER OF BUDDHIST ROBE,THEY SUPPORT KILLINGS AND BRUTALITY OPENLY.POWERLESS AND STUPID FOLLOWERS ARE STILL GIVING FREE FOODS FOR THESE MEAT EATING,ALKOHOL DRINKING,MONEY CHEATING CRIMINALS.MOST OF THESE ROBERS DOING SEX WITH OTHERS WIFES AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO COME TO TEMPLES TO ATTEND CLASESS.THESE DIRTS ARE DESTROYING THE BUDDHISM AND THE PEACE OF MINDS OF THE PEOPLE.GET RID OF THESE DIRTY GARBAGE FROM TEMPLES.THAT IS THE BEST PINKAMA TODAY.
Well, when our President is going to appoint an investigating commission as usual.
Culture of Impunity and the Nation’s woos
Since independence it is the culture of impunity that is disturbing the country’s progress and racial harmoney.
When the govt ignored the Police excesses on Tamils, the Tamils in turn supported the Tigers who attacked the Police and the Forces in a way to punish them. However the Tigers refer their actions as ‘Fight for liberation of Tamils’ which was not right. The Impunity and the Tiger violence continued and ruined the country badly.
In the west people say that you feel a sence of security and safe when you see the Police officers arriving in difficult situation that you are in but unfortunately the oposite is true in this country.
The impunity culture started with Tamils but now almost all the communities facing and feeling it.
As long as this mad culture of impunity continues there WILL BE NO PROGRESS IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE RACIAL HARMONEY.
Watching this video breaks my heart. Why even none of the on lookers have manage to help the poor drowning man. Living away from Sri Lanka I hear great stories of people of Sri Lanka especially for their kindness and compassion from foreigners .
I am just starting to wonder that, whether we have lost all our kindness and humanity in this great nation( people of Sri Lanka not the politicians nor the religious leaders ).
Insinuations and governments have to address the issue of basic human rights and how to safe guard it for people of Sri Lanka.
Police brutality has to come to an end in Sri Lanka. The perpetrator of crimes against humanity should face trail. I remember when I was young during the JVP uprising many young village boys have perished their lives for nothing. The police Jeep pick them at night and burn their bodies wrapped to rubber tyres in every junction. Why no police officer have been brought justice yet.
If we want to become a great nation that we have address the basic human rights issues. It is in everyone’s interest that we uphold the human rights.
OMG ! Do I want to come back and live in my country again ? I can’t believe it is the very same beach I had been to many times. How about the thousands who are punished and murdered behind the scene under the pretext to fighting terror and other allegations ? God only will know. One thing I know, it has become a nation Radshashas now. We need a Rama reborn to save this land of sinners.
Kuweni’s blood reletives in action….shame
Policemen are the most illeterate and unintelligent force in the country. They behave like hounds and the top brass use their position to intimidate, humiliate and use thuggery on the innocent public through their juniors. Who will take responsibility for their illegal actions?????
This inhumane and shame to Sri Lankan police … this should be taken to the highest court for maximum panelties for those thugs and strip of thier position immideietly as they dont fit to be in that position. This worse than a “Mad man” action and no words to discribe this barbaric action.
WHY THE INVESTIGATION BY CCD IT SHOULD BE FROM INDEPENDENT COMMISSION
I think this policeman must get back to school and at least finish off his grade 5 school exams.
Who is mentally ill. men with sticks or unarmed man. i am confused.
Cassie Chetty,
You have a inferiority complex problem. You need to be sent to Angoda mental hospital for treatment. Firstly, Sivakumar is not from Jaffna he was from Koslanda and had come to Ratmalana along with his siblings and kith and kin. His sisters and brother spoke fluent sinhalese on TV. They are true lankans unlike you (you had forgotten that your forefathers came from india or portugal to settledown in Sri Lanka). You are indeed ashame to your parents. You should hang yourselves just like judas did as narrated in the holy bible.
By the way, I am a budhist. Anyway, as for the police constable he should be executed, hanged or shot in public so that no other policemen would repeat such an incident.
This is shocking indeed which tell a lot about our cruel culture and the leadership of the country.
Senior DIG Mr Nimal Madiwaka should be put in charge of this investigation.I wonder where DIG Lional Goonetilleke is as either one of them should be put in charge.I doubt it as they are too professional and erect to the likes of our utterly corrupt leaders.
Tamil people please understand that this not a racial attack but a stupid act of Police thuggery of a few bad police men and they should be severely punished or if this go on any longer the leaders who can’t run the country to an accepted standards will be punished by the international community as that our only hope.
What a cold blooded murder by the Sri Lankan police who is supposed to protect the people.
This clearly shows the dirty and cruel menatlity of the Lankan forces who are allaeged to have involved in crimes and not investigating crimes.
As this crime involved murdering a Tamil minority youth by Sinhala police, it should be investigated by the International investigators or Scotlandyard.
This is crime against humanity.
as human, we shouldn”t go such a low level. Hope no one will repeat same mistake.
I am appalled as anyone to have seen a cold blooded murder. I could not sleep last night. He looks like my brother. I went home and gave my brother a hug with tears poring down my eyes. This is a mother’s child and a brother to someone. I am previledged to live overseas in a country where we regard life as precious. Ever since the terror inflicted upon the SL people by the Rajapakse regime, the country is today a thug criminal state. There is abject poverty, media control, corruption, lies deception and IDP’s behind fences nearing death. All this in the 21st century. I renounce my attachement to Sri Lanka.
Did you see the massacre in Kathankudy 138 dead bodies.
58 in Gonagala Amparai. I have been to the war seen dead bodies of soldiers and civilians. You have to learn that the life of a man trying to commit a crime in any country is worth nothing. Peopel have been shot for less in the US and the UK so stop moaning.
Once again, we see abuse of power in Sri Lanka. From the top to the minions, people are killing on a whim, with no regard for human life. I have no faith that the people involved will be brought to justice. All it takes is one call from a lousy politician and people get away. This is indeed a sad incident, and the cruelty that has been displayed only adds to the already bad reputation the country has.
This is uncivilized behavior that should appall any decent human being.
One more Tamil is killed. So what?
The fact that police are so bold as to commit murder with many members of the public watching,shows that at least some policemen think that they can get away with murder in public.I await the JMO’s report.If the lungs are full of air,death took place before the body submerged in water.If lungs are full of water,death was by drowning.There will be other physical evidence of trauma with a blunt weapon.I fear that the JMO’s report and coroner’s/magistrate’s verdict will not appear soon.
The attorney general should expedite cases like this,else the public will lose the respect & trust in him,just as they have lost the respect & trust in the police.
Peter Casie Chetty,
Enough, we dont want to listen to your dirty mouth.