By
D.B.S.Jeyaraj

pic via: facebook.com/reno.azath

Former Colombo Deputy Mayor and Founder leader of the National United Front(NUF) Azath Salley has been hospitalised by the Police after he collapsed during interrogation at the Police CID headquarters 4th floor. He was taken to the hospital at about 5 pm on Friday May 3rd and is now receiving treatment under heavy Police guard at ward 55 of Colombo National hospital.

Salley’s wife, daughter and son in law would be permitted to visit him at 9 am in the morning of Saturday May 4th for a brief period. Salley’s condition is reportedly stable.

Azath Salley was arrested by the Police on Thursday May 2nd morning and placed under detention for further interrogation by the Terrorism Investigation Dept into his alleged complicity with “terrorism”. He is being held under the notorious prevention of terrorism act. It is learnt that Salley’s detention order is for 90 days.

Salley who is a diabetic has been refusing to partake of food or water while under Police detention. He adopted this position in protest against his “unjust” arrest and demanded that he be set free.

He rejected food and water given by the Police. He declined to consume even food procured from his family saying his refusal to eat was on a matter of principle.

It is learnt that Azath Salley whose physical condition had deteriorated had collapsed during interrogation He had been without food or water for more than 30 hours.

Defence ministry authorities got worried about Salley’s condition and rushed him to hospital. When his family members heard about it and went to the hospital they were not allowed to meet him. However Police said Salley’s wife, daughter and son in law could visit him in hospital on Saturday morning.

Azath Salley’s health had been problematic even as he was arrested. Some hours after his arrest on Thursday he was brought from fourth floor to Hospital for a physical check up. He was then taken back to 4th floor. When his family rushed to hospital on Thursday they were told that Salley had been taken back to Police headquarters.

While Salley is warded at the hospital now under heavy police guard there is widespread condemnation about his arrest. Several political leaders have issued statements. There was a protest demonstration in pouring rain in Colombo. Amnesty International too has issued a statement in this regard.

DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com