By Saroj Pathirana BBC Sinhala Service

Complaints against Sri Lanka’s police force of killing and torturing suspects while in custody are disturbingly increasing, they pointed out.

Police chief for his part accuses human rights organisations of preventing the law enforcement authorities from acting against criminals.

HR activists say complaints against police are disturbingly increasing

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Fernando told BBC Sandeshaya (Sinhala service) that many human rights organisations are only concerned about the criminals.

“What about the victims of the criminals. Don’t they have human rights? ”

However, human rights organisations say police is trying to cover up its ‘inability’ to deal with rising crime rates by accusing others.

Chitral Perera, secretary of Janasansadaya, an organisation affiliated to Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), says the crime rate is increasing due to the activities of the police officials.

“Police as an institution is corrupt and many police officers take ransom from criminals and powerful. Senior police officers are accused of having dealings with drug barons. What has the IGP done to prevent this?” Chitral Perera questions.

Police are accused of torturing and killing in custody

IGP Fernando says he has no intention to safeguard corrupt officials.

When asked who he describes as criminals, the police chief says anybody who was convicted before and still has contacts with other ‘rogue elements’ should be considered as a criminal.

“We do not arrest anybody without a justifiable suspicion. And we don’t have to beat criminals to get evidence, many of them confess themselves.”

“A democratic nation in the 21st century”, comments Nimal G Punchihewa, director, Human rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC), “has a moral duty to honour basic principals of human rights. No one is considered as guilty until proven.”

Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence UN covention on HR

Allegations against Sri Lanka’s police force of torturing and killing suspects while in custody have been increasing during the recent past.

Many observers fear whether the country is going back towards the police state of 1983 and 1989 when thousands of Tamil and Sinhala youths allegedly tortured and killed while in custody.

Thousands of dead bodies were seen burning on the streets and floating in rivers in late 80's.

The government was forced to appoint a human rights task force as police and the security forces were accused of torture and maintaining secret ‘torture chambers’.

Police were accused running torture chambers in late 80's

“We challenge him; Can the IGP point out any case where we tried to safeguard a criminal?” Chitral Perera said.

Analysts also believe the police are using Sri Lankan media to do scare mongering showing “a devil” to hide their inability to deal with rising crime.

They say the police should try to find long term solutions rather than pointing the finger on human rights organisations.

“Are we ready to be a civilised nation ? Are we ready to obey our international commitments?” Nimal Punchihewa questioned.