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| Sunday, 30 March 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Orugodawatte, Kotahena cases : Human organs on sale? by ANTON NONIS and S. selvakumar Four officers of the Grandpass police were interdicted on the orders of the Inspector General of Police T. Anandarajah with immediate effect, following police inaction to a complaint to rescue a girl aged 14, from captivity. A mini war which sprang up against the police and residents last Thursday, has now been brought under control with the police suffering many casualties. Linked to the same incident, Kotahena police discovered another girl around the same age last Friday from the suspect's mother's house in Kotahena, who was also living in captivity. Three police teams have been deployed to do a full scale investigation into these discoveries. The story about the prisoner-child came to light when repeated complaints by residents in the Kamkaru housing scheme in Orugodawatte were ignored by the Grandpass police. Forcing themselves into the house, the child was found under a ramshackle bed, tethered to one of its legs with a dog chain. There was a loaf of bread by her side. According to Director of Colombo Crimes Division, Sarath Lugoda, the child was brought to the Orugodawatte house when she was only two-and-half-years. The child has told the police that she was tortured, burnt and ill treated by the suspect. SSP Lugoda said the child who was produced before the JMO had not been sexually molested. Both children have now been handed over to the Salvation Army for protection and schooling. Neighbours at Stace Road, Grandpass where girl was rescued came out with more revelations to the Sunday Observer. A resident of the Kamkarupura Housing Complex said the suspect Nishanthi Siriwardena came into occupation to the ground floor about ten years ago. It was earlier occupied by an elderly woman whom the neighbours called 'Aunty'. The latter is said to be the suspect's mother. The suspect moved into the house from Kolonnawa after the 'Aunty' left the place. The suspect was apparently carrying on a business of bridal dressmaking and cake-making. The neighbour who spoke to this newspaper himself had got a cake made last year to celebrate his son's birthday. However, he said that he has sometimes seen the suspect woman disembarking from ambulance's confirming speculations that she has brought up young girls and obtained their body organs to be transplanted to rich patients who could afford large sums of money for transplants. A private sector medical practitioner who wished to remain anonymous said a kidney could be sold for a sum between Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 140,000. When the neighbours at Kamkarupura yesterday dug the floor of a room there were several uniforms of school girls, one belonging to a leading prestigious Colombo girl's school. There were also used syringes indicating blood has been taken for testing as this is necessary to compare the blood group of a patient before an organ is removed. There were also several copies of birth certificates, photographs of a police officer, school bags and blood stained clothes. Some neighbours said that they have seen the suspect moving around in luxury vehicles. Of late they have heard eerie somewhat muffled screams in the nights. Last Thursday the imprisoned girl had scribbled a note in Sinhala and managed to throw it out to the premises of an adjoining bakery where she has stated that she has been tied to a bed with a dog chain. The bakery owner has brought this to the notice of the Grandpass police, but the police who searched the house failed to find anyone inside. However, the neighbours later stormed the house and freed the girl and informed the police. People in the vicinity say the suspect woman was carrying on a sinister business with the knowledge of the police and hence the police inaction. IGP T. E. Anandarajah who spoke to the media admitted police inaction and ordered the immediate transfer of some officers attached to the Grandpass police. He also appointed Superintendent of Police D. S. S. Lugoda and a handpicked team of police officers to conduct a thorough investigation. At present available clues lead to the assumption that the suspect has either abducted or lured young girls and was engaged in the business of selling human organs to needy rich patients. Police are also investigating to ascertain whether child pornography and or child prostitution, too, were involved. On Friday after the neighbours dug out school uniforms, underwear, skirts and blouses a woman ran to the office of Colombo District Parliamentarian and Minister Mohamed Maharoof with a frock and said it belonged to her daughter who went missing nine months ago. The Minister summoned the police and handed over the woman and the items of clothing. |
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