On 6 April an operation was launched by the police in the Dicle, Dumlupınar and Kürtmen Hacı neighbourhoods of the Bismil district of Diyarbakır (Amed), and one person was detained. During the operation, which started at 2:00 am and lasted until 8:00am, three different neighbourhoods were simultaneously blockaded and construction equipment was brought to the region to excavate the raided houses.
Mesopotamia News Agency reported that İbrahim Halil Ercan (30), who had been detained during the raid, had his head covered with a plastic bag. His house and its surroundings were dug up by the construction equipment. It was also reported that Ercan was threatened with death and coerced into accepting responsibility for the ammunition allegedly found in the search.
Excavation in the houses and gardens
While three houses were searched during the raids, excavations were carried out in Ercan’s house, garden, and in the barn next door. Ercan was not at home during the raids since his house was being repaired. He was staying at a relative’s house in the Dumlupınar neighbourhood. Ercan and others who were present in the house in Dumlupınar during the raid were insulted and tortured by police from the Special Operations Department. After a search was conducted he was taken to Dicle, his home.
His head was covered with a plastic bag
Ercan, who was blindfolded, was allegedly beaten by the police and his head was covered by a plastic bag while he was taken to his house.
It was also reported that the police, who showed Ercan some ammunition allegedly removed from a drawer in a room of his house, threatened him by saying, “You will accept that these belong to you otherwise we will kill you.”
Ercan was detained after the searches at three differrent addresses and then taken to the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate.
Torture wounds on his face
As Ercan’s detention period was extended, his lawyer was able to meet with him. The lawyer claimed that his client has been tortured for hours. Traces of torture can be seen on his face and head in a photograph of Ercan that was taken while he was in custody. His lawyers filed a criminal complaint about Ercan’s treatment and he is expected to be taken to the courthouse tomorrow.
