EPDP's Batticaloa leader absconding from police

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 October 2003, 17:19 GMT]
The leader of the Eelam Peopleâs Democratic Party (EPDP) in Batticaloa district, Mr. Paraneetharan Pratheepan, and his wife are absconding from the police as the police have been ordered by the Batticaloa Magistrate to produce him in court regarding violations of the law during the elections conducted on December 03, 2000, the Batticaloa head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Mr. Suriyaradchi, said.

Mr. Paraneetharan was given notice to appear in court on September 9 in connection with a case that alleges that in violation of election laws, he held a meeting bearing firearms.

When he failed to appear in court on that date, the judge issued a warrant on him, the police said.