A Tamil man who had been summoned to the occupying Sri Lankan police headquarters in Jaffna for an inquiry has died after collapsing inside the station on Monday, raising fresh concerns over police conduct and the treatment of Tamils.
The deceased has been identified as P. Sureshkumar, a resident of the Navanthurai area in Jaffna.
According to reports, Sureshkumar had been called to the occupying police station on Monday in connection with an inquiry. While at the station, he collapsed.
Sri Lankan police officers subsequently arranged for him to be taken to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for emergency treatment. However, he later died despite medical efforts to save him.
His body has been placed at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Sri Lankan Police have stated that investigations into the incident are underway.
The death comes amid continuing concerns regarding the conduct of Sri Lankan police and security forces in the Tamil homeland, where cases of torture and extrajudicial killings have persisted.
Human rights organisations and Tamil civil society groups have repeatedly highlighted patterns of custodial violence, torture and suspicious deaths involving Tamil detainees, with many cases remaining unresolved for years.
