A suspect arrested for several home break-ins and thefts, by Colombo Central Division Criminal Investigation Bureau has died while in Police custody in Sri Lanka.
According to the police the suspect jumping from the fifth floor of an apartment complex in Kotahena while being handcuffed, when he went to the location with the police to show stolen items.
There have been number of custodial deaths while taken to find stolen goods or hidden arms. It is alleged that these are in fact killings by the police, disguised as committing suicides.
In this case a police team led by a Sub Inspector has not been able to stop him “jumping to death”.
Police said the handcuffed suspect, ran away when they reached the fifth floor of the apartment complex and jumped down.
This suspect was arrested along with five grams and 10 milligrams of heroin in connection with six house break-ins and thefts that took place in Fort, Keselwatta, Dam Street police areas.
The police say that when the suspect was arrested, he was also carrying a fake identity card. The suspect, who was kept at the Dam Street police for questioning under a detention order was taken to an apartment complex in Kotahena by a police team led by a sub-inspector on June 30 evening to check a place where he had identified as a place where he had hidden stolen goods.
The suspect had succumbed to injuries at the Colombo National Hospital on Saturday. A senior police officer said that a special investigation will be conducted regarding this incident.
As impunity is the law in the country no policeman will be held accountable for the death of the suspect in their custody.
With the inputs from CDN