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Court stops clearing of Aluthgama debris; BASL blasts police
View(s):The clearing of debris at the scene of communal unrest in Aluthgama has been stopped on a court order until the Government Analyst (GA) examines the location.
Post Aluthgama violence: Reconstructing buildings that were destroyed
Kalutara Additional Magistrate Aisha Abdeen’s ruling came after the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) filed an application seeking court intervention to stop the clearing of the debris until proper investigations are carried out in cases of suspected arson. The magistrate also ordered Police to ask the Government Analysts to visit the affected areas to obtain forensic evidence before allowing any more reconstruction work.
The magistrate on Friday also directed the Judicial Medical Officer of Aluthgama to testify before court this week after questions were raised about the lawyers appearing on behalf of the families of those who were killed in the violence last month. They challenged the findings of the post-mortem examination report presented to court.
The JMO had said that one of the victims had died due to cut injuries even though witnesses testified that the victim was shot dead.
The magistrate said that an order on whether to exhume the bodies as requested by the lawyers for the victims’ families would be issued after the JMO testified in court.
BASL President Upul Jayasuriya said they were closely monitoring the case relating to the Aluthgama incidents. He said the BASL believed the Police had failed to carry out the basic procedures followed in cases of arson. One such instance was the failure of the police to summon the Government Analyst to the scene of the tragedy immediately.
Mr. Jayasuriya also said that BASL members who visited the affected areas had been told by several witnesses that those who died in the violence were shot dead. The witnesses contradicted the findings in the post-mortem examination report which said there were cut injuries on one of the victims.