91 suspects died in police custody in past 4 years

The government said yesterday (09) that 91 suspects had died in the past four years while in the custody of the police.

Thirty-one of them had died this year, said chief government whip Dinesh Gunawardena.

He said that 29 had died in 2008, 20 in 2007, 11 in 2006 and two in 2005, in answer to a question raised by JVP’s Lakshman Nipunarachchi.

According to the minister, these deaths had been due to natural causes, suicide, addiction and influence of dangerous and narcotic drugs.

Fatal injuries suffered when captured by the people and defensive action by police when attacked are another reasons, said Mr. Gunawardena.

© Colombo Today