Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Polonnaruwa District, Buddhika Manatunga, has interrupted lawyer Senaka Perera, who represented the rights of the young man who was shot dead by the Polonnaruwa Police and his family, stating that he has no right to represent the victim.

The police shot and killed a young man named G.A. Tishan, aged (25). The Superintendent of Police had obstructed the lawyer in this manner when the inquest evidence was being called before Polonnaruwa Magistrate Erandi Mihirani on the 17th.

He told us that the magistrate granted permission to Perera, the lawyer and executive director of the Prisoners’ Rights Protection Committee, who appeared on behalf of the victims, despite the Superintendent of Police’s obstruction.

.The lawyer has objected to the SSP in open court, stating that he has the right and responsibility to appear on behalf of the murdered youth and his family.

Lawyer Senaka Perera told us as the executive director of the Prisoners Rights Protection committee that the magistrate granted permission to him for appearing on behalf of the victims, despite the Superintendent of Police’s obstruction.

The lawyer has objected to the SSP in open court, stating that he has the right and responsibility to appear on behalf of the murdered youth and his family.

Tishan was shot to death by officers of the Polonnaruwa Police Motorcycle Unit, following a heated argument with them on the road. Tishan’s parents said the officers of the Police Motorcycle Unit chased Tishan’s motorcycle to his house and shot him dead in front of Tishan’s parents. Although 19 witnesses were named for the initial hearing regarding the murder, only eight witnesses were called for the preliminary hearing held on the 17th.

Attorney Perera said that the police officer who shot Tishan was among the witnesses who were produced before the magistrate for questioning by the police, and that every witness who testified that day testified that no crime had occurred and that it appeared that the police were making a strong attempt to cover up Tishan’s murder.

The medical reports which were submitted to the court on January (13) by the specialist judicial medical officer of the Polonnaruwa General Hospital, Lasantha S.K. De Silva, stated that the deceased’s death was due to internal blood bleeding into the chest cavity and a bullet wound to the heart.

The magistrate ordered that further evidence be adjourned to March (11).