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.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)