Sri Lanka's police faced censure Friday (21) over an attempt to "abduct" a student activist, a tactic widely used against dissidents by the previous strongman leader's regime.
Finance minister Mangala Samaraweera said he lodged a protest with police chief Pujith Jayasundara over an attempt by plain-clothed officers to seize on Thursday (20) night a student known for his anti-government views.
Other students prevented him from being grabbed by the plain clothed officers.
Samaraweera said the "white van abduction" was to recreate the fear psychosis associated with former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse's regime.
The minister said the new government came to power in January 2015 promising to end the "white van culture" and ensure people had more freedom, but the latest police action was a retrograde step.
"I spoke with the inspector general of Police and he said he will take disciplinary action against those responsible," the minister told reporters in Colombo. "We condemn this action of the police."
Being "white-vanned" had become a verb synonymous with being abducted -- a tactic widely used by Sri Lankan forces to deal with troublesome opponents during Rajapakse's decade in power.
The abduction attempt came hours after president Maithripala Sirisena gave legal effect to a 2016 law which established an office to trace the tens of thousands of people who went missing during the island's decades-long ethnic war.
Samaraweera told the police chief that the timing of the illegal police action suggested there may be elements trying to discredit the administration.
Anti-government activists stage regular protests against the government's free market economic reforms, including allowing private medical education.
Under the previous regime police and security forces killed several people when they fired at them during anti-government demonstrations. White vans were deployed to abduct dissidents.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)