A Christian pastor and his family were repeatedly assaulted by Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) members in the Poonthottam area of Vavuniya.
During the attack on Wednesday evening, nine members who identified themselves as EPDP members and supporters of parliamentarian Dileepan reportedly assaulted pastor, Thanabalasingam Jeyaroopan, and his wife in front of the police.
Following the attack on Wednesday, Jeyaroopan filed a complaint Thursday against the assailants in the Police Station. After speaking to the media, he was assaulted again on Thursday at around 10 am.
Earlier this year, UK International Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, raised concerns over the continued persecution of religious minorities in Sri Lanka.
The pastor complained that the police took no action to stop the assailants and instead assisted them in the attack against him. He also said that no investigation has been initiated against them, raising suspicions that the police were in collusion with the attackers.
The pastor, in his complaint, has requested the police to conduct an unbiased investigation into the case and arrest the assailants as soon as they can.
The gang stormed into his residence and inflicted severe injuries on the pastor, causing him to be admitted in the Vavuniya Public Hospital.
The pastor said from the hospital that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Vavuniya would investigate the attack against him and the perpetrators should be arrested.