Two female officers of the Navy have been arrested over their alleged involvement in the abduction and disappearance of two Tamil women in Trincomalee in 2008.
The CID is investigating the case of Sasikumar Thenmoli and Mary Delshia of Kinniya, who were reportedly detained and tortured at ‘Gun Site’ underground prison within the Trincomalee Naval Base and subsequently went missing.
The facility was reportedly operated by a special intelligence unit under the command of the then Commadore D.K.P. Dassanayake.
It had been responsible for detaining suspected LTTE members and Tamils abducted in Colombo and elsewhere for ransom, it is alleged.
Complaints received many years ago
The CID had received complaints many years ago about the involvement of the two female officers, Lt. Commander Deepika Sandamali and Petty officer Aruni Dinusha, in the disappearance of the two Tamil women.
Making submissions to the Trincomalee magistrate’s court, the CID said the two accused have been questioned several times over the allegations against them.
Four male Navy officers have also been implicated in the alleged crime as per accounts of another ‘Gun Site’ inmate who has testified.
The two Tamil women had been taken in a white van, and nothing was heard about them since, according to the eyewitness.
Sexual harassment accusations
Brothers and other relatives of the two women too, had been detained and tortured there, according to evidence submitted to courts.
The two female officers have also been accused of sexual harassment of male inmates, who had been taken out of their cells, forced to “remove their sarongs and masturbate”.