The Real Story of Balendren Jeyakumary and her 13 Year Old Daughter P. Vibushikka

During the arrest on 13 March 2014, the mother was abused, insulted and assaulted by the uniform people. No women were present while the two females were interrogated. They were not given any refreshment of food for the night.

Balendren Jeyakumary and her 13 years old daughter P. Vibushikka

(COLOMBO) - We have reported in recent days the arrest of a Tamil mother and her teenage daughter in Sri Lanka who protested the unresolved disappearance of her son, 15 at the time, an LTTE fighter who was last in contact with his family in 2009. The boy's image has been used by the government as part of their "reformed rebel fighter" claims, yet the govt. will share no information with Vibushikka about her son's location. During a visit from David Cameron last November, Vibushikka's story came to light. Earlier this month, she and her daughter were home when government security forces stormed her residence, taking she and her daughter into custody. This is a report sent to Salem-News.com this morning about what took place during their arrest.

After having lunch at about 3.30 pm when Vibushikka was at the door, a stranger wearing a maroon color t-shirt and black trousers, carrying back pack, stormed into the house saying “if you shout I will strangle your neck”.

Both mother and daughter came out of the house shouting for help.

Just at that time, 4-5 men in uniform came through the gate and the women told these persons that there is a stranger inside. One of the uniformed men went inside and after a while they heard a gun shot.

The uniform man came outside with the stranger without any injury and without any apparent hurry.

Thereafter. 2 other uniformed persons also went inside. Only at that time did both women become aware that a large armed force of army and police personnel had surrounded their house.

Thereafter, both women were taken to the joining land but the mother was permitted to lock the house. Only then did they realize that the household goods had been ransacked and the entire contents of almirahs and cupboards including jewelery boxes put on the ground. The uniformed men forcibly took 3 savings bank books, an identity card and 2 mobile phones from the women.

Out on the adjoining land the mother was intimidated to give some information which the mother stated she did not know. She was abused, insulted and assaulted by the uniform people and they were taken by army jeep.

There were no women police or women army personnel to accompany the two females who were taken the Kilinochchi police station where they were interrogated. They were not given any refreshment of food for the night.

By about 11 o'clock that night, the mother and daughter had been chained and placed in hand cuffs. The child was threatened several time to tell the truth and the mother was hit with boots. The mother was also held by the hair and hit in the face. The daughter fell asleep around 1:00 am but interrogation of the mother continued till morning.

At about 8:00 am the daughter was separated from the mother and was questioned separately. At about 1:00 pm they were taken to Vavuniya, a judicial medical officer. The JMO asked questions in a threatening manner and both were ordered to tell the truth.

They were taken back to Vavuniya police and were made to sign some papers. At around 7:00 pm they were taken to Kilinochchi and produced before the Kilinochchi acting Magistrate at about 10:00 pm. Thereafter the mother was taken to Vavuniya TID and the daughter was handed over to the Probation department with the direction that she be admitted to Kilinochchi Hospital and produced in the Magistrate court of Kilinochchi on 17. 03. 2014.

On 17. 03. 2014 the court handed over the custody of the daughter to a children's home. The mother is reported to be in the custody of TID at Boosa detention Camp.

Edited for Salem-News.com by Tim King