The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has begun an investigation into the recent death of a suspect who was in Police custody, Commission Chairman Dr. Deepika Udagama told the Sunday Observer yesterday. Underworld figure, Chamara Indrajith was arrested on June 22 by the Police for his alleged connection to the jewellery heist in Matara, only to be shot dead by the Police the next day.
Police claim Chamara had attempted to hurl a grenade at the Police when he was taken to the Kirala Kele, Matara to recover a bag of clothes.
However, criticising the death, many notable figures alleged his death was a revenge killing after a Police sergeant was killed in a shootout with Chamara’s gang on the day of the robbery.
“A team from the Human Rights Commission office, left for Matara on Thursday, June 28 to conduct an investigation.
The killing of the police officer and the subsequent death of the suspect in police custody who was believed to have been connected to the incident has necessitated this investigation,” Dr. Udagama said, adding that the decision to conduct the inquiry by the Colombo office was arrived at after taking all related details into consideration.