Relatives of 11 youths arrested by Police on suspicion that they are members of the ‘Aava’ group, complained to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) office in Jaffna, saying the arrests were illegal.
The relatives have noted that arresting the youths under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and taking them to the headquarters in Colombo for questioning was illegal as the defence authorities had identified the ‘Aava’ group as a robbery gang.
HRCSL Jaffna District Investigation Officer Thangavelu Kanagaraj said that investigations have begun on 11 complaints received. Kanagaraj added that the Commission will probe whether police followed the criteria laid down by the HRCSL on arrests and detentions of persons under the PTA when arresting the youths.
He said the relatives of three of the suspects out of 11 have not been notified about the arrests or issued receipts of their detention. Kanagaraj added that HRCSL Jaffna will conduct the probe in close consultations with HRCSL officials in Colombo.
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