Jaffna SLA assault case transferred to Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 November 2004, 18:29 GMT]
The case against two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who were indicted for causing grievous injury to a paper seller boy and a bus conductor by firing at them in Jaffna bus stand during early part of this year has been transferred from Jaffna to Vavuniya Magistrate Court on the orders of the Court of Appeal, legal sources said.

The Court of Appeal made the transfer order on applications made on behalf of two accused soldiers that the inquiry into the cases should be held outside Jaffna district to ensure their security, legal sources said.

Army soldiers who were on duty in a sentry point located in the Jaffna bus stand shot the paper seller boy who was at that time selling a Tamil daily " Eelanaatham". A stray bullet hit a bus conductor who was on duty at that time in the bus stand.

The Jaffna Additional Magistrate Ms Srinithi Nanthasekaran ordered remand for the first accused soldier when the army officer who stood surety made an application to withdraw his surety, legal sources said.

Additional Magistrate further instructed prison officials to produce the first accused in Vavuniya Magistrate Court.

The other accused is on bail, legal sources said.