The father of a young man who is said to have gone missing in Hambantota says the police may have hurt his son while in police custody.

A police inquest has been launched to find the whereabouts of the individual, G. G. Gayashan, a 20-year-old from Bandagiriya, who was last seen in a cell at the Hambantota police by one of his friends.

The father charges that the police holds a contradictory response with respect to the arrest and detention of Gayashan.

“In the first place, they claimed Gayashan was not arrested at all. Later, they charged that my son had fled the scene while the officials were escorting him in a trishaw,” he said.

The father also went on to say that the police later maintained that Gayashan had escaped as he went to the lavatory at the police station.

“So I questioned the failure by the police to arrest him again, if he had escaped as claimed by them,” he pointed out.

“He is not that strong. He could have been killed while in the hands of police custody,” said the father. 

“I fear for the life of my son. It is a relief, if he has escaped as claimed by the police, but he has left no trace,” he said.

Gayashan and two others were arrested by the police for the alleged theft of several sacks of paddy from a warehouse in Hambantota on 9 September.

As claimed by the friend, who is also a suspect, the main culprit behind the theft is the son of a cop of the same police station. He alleges that he was tortured and was urged to admit to the crime.

“I saw Gayashan at the police station. He was with me in the cell. I have seen the washroom where my friend went. There is no way he could have escape from there,” he added.

Five police officers including the HQI of the Hambantota Police have been transferred over the incident. According to sources, an investigation has been launched into the allegation headed by the Tangalle SSP.

The Police Commission of Sri Lanka has also called for a report in connection with the case.