SLA tortured Jaffna student detained in Police custody

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 November 2007, 14:56 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna arrested a 19-year-old student of Jaffna St. Johns College Wednesday near Chemma’ni bridge check point and handed him Thursday, after severely torturing him, to Jaffna police, civil sources in Jaffna said. The student was admitted to Jaffna Teaching hospital Thursday with several wounds bearing hallmarks of torture, hospital administration said.

SLA claimed that Naresh had been arrested carrying wall posters related to the forthcoming Annual Heroes’ Day, police said.

The police produced Naresh before Jaffna Magistrate R.T. Vignarajah Thursday and requested the victim be remanded for alleged involvement in "terrorist activities." Following instructions by the Magistrate to produce evidence of alleged guilt, the Police took him back to the Jaffna Police station and have detained him in Police custody Thursday night.

Naresh is an A-level student of Jaffna St. Johns College and a resident of Meesaalai, Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchchi.

Jaffna District Student Union (JDSU) in a report to the Media in Jaffna said that SLA troops had arrested Naresh Wednesday while he was returning home after attending class in a private education centre.

Jaffna Teaching hospital administration confirmed that Naresh was admitted for treatment in a severely tortured condition Thursday and taken back by Jaffna Police Thursday night.

Four students of St. Johns College and Jaffna Hindu College who were abducted earlier in Jaffna area had been released after four months.