By The Pulseline News Desk
Three police officers attached to the Homagama Police Station have been interdicted following the death of a 29-year-old suspect in police custody, as investigators seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police have assigned the investigation to the Western Province South Crimes Division following an open verdict at the post-mortem examination, leaving the cause and circumstances of the suspect’s death to be determined through further investigations.
The interdictions were carried out on Monday (26) and involve two Sub-Inspectors who served as Officers-in-Charge of the Crime Division and the Anti-Vice Raids Unit, along with a Police Constable who was on duty at the time of the incident.
According to police, the suspect had been arrested by Homagama Police in connection with narcotics-related offences. He was subsequently admitted to the Homagama Base Hospital after developing a sudden illness but died while receiving treatment.
The open verdict at the post-mortem examination has left investigators to establish what led to his death and whether any wrongdoing occurred during his arrest or detention.
Government pledges investigation
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala has pledged an independent and systematic investigation, assuring that further action would be taken based on its findings.
He has stressed that police officers were required to operate within the law and had no authority to exercise their powers arbitrarily.
The Minister has said the Government would respond promptly whenever incidents involving alleged misconduct by police officers were reported.
He has also disclosed that 1,200 police officers had been suspended over the past two years, citing the figure as evidence of the authorities’ willingness to take disciplinary action against officers accused of violating the law.
“When an incident is reported, unlike in the past, we do not attempt to cover it up. We are committed to investigating every incident and ensuring justice is served,” he has said.
Police accountability under scrutiny
The latest incident has renewed concerns over police accountability and the treatment of suspects in custody, particularly when detainees fall ill or die while under police supervision.
The investigation by the Western Province South Crimes Division is expected to examine the circumstances of the suspect’s arrest, his condition while in custody, the events preceding his hospitalisation and the circumstances surrounding his death.
The findings will be crucial in determining whether any police misconduct occurred and whether further disciplinary or legal action is warranted.
Authorities have yet to establish publicly the precise cause of death, while the open verdict leaves the central questions surrounding the incident unresolved.
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