Anti-Muslim violence in Hettipola

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Former State Minister Nalin Bandara had urged police officers in Hettipola, on May 2019, to release six suspects arrested for allegedly attacking Muslim owned properties following the Easter Sunday attacks, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks was informed yesterday.

SSP Oshan Hewavitharana, who was in charge of the Kuliyapitiya Police Division at the time, told the PCoI that there had been indications of unrest in the area by early May.

“On May 12, I was informed that an unidentified group had asked several Muslim businessmen to close their shops. I went there with the Dummalasuriya OIC and took steps to reopen those places.”

The witness said that on the same day, around 5.30 pm, he had got a call from the Kuliyapitiya HQI that four Muslim owned shops in Hettipola Road, Karanthipola, Kuliyapitiya had been attacked. Acting on a tip-off, the HQI had later arrested four persons, Hewavitharana said.

The witness said around 200 people along with religious leaders had surrounded the police station, and he called in reinforcements and secured the police area.

“However, we decided to release the four suspects on police bail until investigations were complete,” he said.

Hewavitharana added that the next significant incident had occurred at Kinigama, Hettipola. A large number of people had gathered after a complaint that a stock of ammunition has been thrown into the Kinigama Tank by members of the local mosque, the witness said. The police with the assistance of Navy divers had searched the tank for two days, 10 and 11 May 2019.

“They failed to find anything but some individual found them on the 12th when he went to bathe. Then there was tension as people gathered near the mosque. Police and Army were sent to the location and although they managed to disperse the crowd several Muslim mosques had been attacked. Six people were later arrested by the Army and handed to Bingiriya police. They were then sent to Hettipola Police station.”

However, a large number of people had gathered near Hettipola Police station on 13 May 2019 demanding the release of the suspects. The people insisted that these men had been arrested without evidence, the witness said. To resolve the issue, a meeting was held at Weerapokuna School and this was attended by former State Minister Nalin Bandara, senior regional officers and religious leaders of all communities.

“Given that we had not conducted investigations into the incident and the sensitivity of the issue we asked those who had gathered for their opinions too. They also agreed that the suspects should be released on police bail until investigations were over. The State Minister also said that this was the best way to defuse the situation,” Hewavitharana said.

The SSP said that he had informed the decision to the Hettipola OIC. The suspects were to be sent to Bingiriya and given bail. However, those who had gathered there prevented the police from taking the suspects to Bingiriya.

“Did anyone else come to the station at this time?” Attorney General’s Department official leading the evidence asked the witness.

“MP Dayasiri Jayasekera came to the police and helped resolve the issue. He told the people that there was an agreement to give police bail to suspects. Jayasekera lives close to the Hettipola police station and was helpful,” Hewavitharana said.

“There was no evidence against the six suspects?” Chairman of the PCoI asked.

“No, they were picked up on the road,” the witness said.

Hewavitharana added that police had taken action to disperse the crowds that had gathered at the Hettipola town. However due to shortage of manpower, they were unable to prevent them from damaging shops, he said.

“That is why we didn’t arrest people but just dispersed them. We knew that we could get CCTV footage and arrested suspects later,” he said.

Minister Jayasekera is to appear before the PCoI today.