Lawyers representing the victims and witnesses of the Welikada prison massacre, say they have lost faith in the CID and believe that the real perpetrators of the crime which resulted in the deaths of 27 inmates, will not be brought to justice.
According to Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera representing the group, the CID is attempting to indict former Commissioner of Prisons, Emil Ranjan and Neomal Rangajeewa of the Police Narcotics Bureau, arrested in connection with the case, thereby basing the case solely on them rather than look for those who ordered the killings of the inmates on November 9, 2012.
“The incident was a complete conspiracy,” he said, adding that justice will only prevail if the true details of the incident were revealed. Despite repeated reminders, during court proceedings, Perera says the CID appears to be disinterested in finding those who directed the likes of Emil Ranjan and Neomal Rangajeewa to commit such acts.
On May 22, Colombo Additional Magistrate Chamari Weerasooriya ordered the CID to focus their investigations on the officials who ordered law enforcement and the armed forces to enter the prison on the day.
However, speaking to the Sunday Observer, a highly placed official of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) denying these claims, said they are conducting investigations in keeping with the orders of the magistrate.
He also said the CID has continuously informed the Courts of the progress of the investigations. “The law cannot be rushed,” he said, adding that if there is evidence any offender will ultimately be nabbed by the law enforcement agencies.