The Shocking Story of Torture, Defiance, and Justice

On a seemingly ordinary June afternoon in 2019, a sales representative for a grocery distribution agency in Bentota went about his daily work, delivering goods to Daluwatta Stores in Bentara. He was just doing his job — until everything changed in a brutal instant.

After completing the delivery, he returned to the agency with Sampath, the vehicle driver. But instead of ending the day quietly, both men were dragged into a nightmare that would scar them physically and emotionally.

Alegations of Theft 

At the Uragasmanhandiya Police Station, the two were arrested under suspicion of stealing jewellery from the very goods they had delivered. What followed was a harrowing ordeal of torture and threats that pushed the limits of human endurance.

The man’s story, laid bare in the Supreme Court, reads like something out of a nightmare. Under the watch of OIC Harith and Crimes OIC Hiran, he was subjected to brutal physical abuse designed to crush his will and force a false confession. Twice, the officers hung him by his wrists from a beam — the pain so intense it left lasting injuries and permanent disability.

Refusal of Confesssion 

But the torment didn’t stop there. He was menaced with fabricated charges, including possession of a hand grenade — a sinister ploy to frighten him into submission. Through the haze of fear and pain, he never wavered. Despite the savage treatment, he stood firm in his innocence, refusing to confess to a crime he did not commit.

The Supreme Court’s judgment was as striking as the story itself. Justices Shiran Gooneratne, S. Thurairaja, and A.H.M.D. Nawaz unanimously condemned the officers’ actions as a gross violation of constitutional rights, highlighting breaches of freedom from torture, equality before the law, and protection from arbitrary arrest.

In a bold and unprecedented move, the Court ordered that the two officers pay Rs. 2 million personally — not on behalf of the police department or the state — but out of their own pockets. This decision sends a powerful signal: those who wield power unjustly will be held personally accountable.

For the victim, the ruling is more than just compensation. It is a vindication of his dignity and a clear message to law enforcement — abuse and impunity have no place in a democratic society.

As this case reverberates through the corridors of justice, it reminds every citizen that the Constitution is a shield against torture and arbitrary detention — and that the Supreme Court stands ready to enforce those protections with unwavering resolve.