Photo of Sri Lankan police

Responding to a brutal assault of a Tamil youth by Sri Lankan officers, attached to the Achchuveli Police, the Jaffna regional office of the National Human Rights Commission has initiated an investigation into the incident.

The Tamil youth was assaulted by the two officers whilst on the street for allegedly failing to attend an investigation. He remains at Jaffna Teaching Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. The investigation by the Human Rights Comission is in response to a case filed by the victim.

T. Kanagaraj, the regional coordinator in Jaffna for the Human Rights Comission, has recorded a statement from the victim who was reportedly arrested by Chunnakam police Station.

This incident follows a disturbing pattern of Sri Lanka's Police targetting and abusing Tamil youth. The Tamil Guardian reported an incident this week where a Tamil youth who was recently released from a prison in Jaffna had died mysteriously, with a post-mortem ordered to ascertain the cause of death. In November last year, a Tamil youth was tortured to death by Sri Lankan police in Jaffna.

In another incident in 2022, Sri Lankan police and military brutally assaulted a Tamil youth in Manipay Jaffna. He had not ben taken to the hospital and was detained at the Manipay police station. He was also arrested on the road for not having worn a helmet when riding a motorcycle.