Illegal arrest of mother, seven-year-old daughter
SC grants leave to proceed

By Chitra Weerarathne
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted leave to proceed with the rights violation application of a mother who said she was illegally arrested by the police, with her seven year old daughter.

In this petition a 33 year old mother from Puttalam, had complained to the Supreme Court in a fundamental rights violation application, that she and her seven year old daughter Shanika, were arrested without a reason on March 23, 2003, by officers of the Puttalam police.

The petition claimed inhuman, arbitrary treatment and illegal arrest by Inspector Karunatillake and subordinates of the Puttalam police station.

The petition was supported in court yesterday by Ms. Sunethra Dias.

The court granted leave to proceed and fixed the hearing of this case for July 9.

The petition had alleged that a Forest Officer stationed in Puttalam, named Premaratne, was ill-disposed towards the petitioner’s husband who is a carpenter.

On March 23, 2003, the Inspector and some others had visited the petitioner’s home, looking for her husband. The petitioner had said that her husband had gone on an errand. The Inspector had arrested the petitioner, along with the seven-year-old child and taken them to the police station.