Protection seeker dies at Jaffna hospital

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 July 2008, 22:11 GMT]
A 37-year-old Tamil civilian, who had sought humanitarian protection with Jaffna office of Human Rights Commission (JHRC) and placed on protective custody in Jaffna prison was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Jaffna hospital Monday and later succumbed to his illness, according to medical sources.

The Victim, identified as Sasiatharan, was a father of five and a resident of Veala'nai, Kayts and a daily wage earner. He had sought protection at the HRC office Saturday after being threatened by two armed men who came in a motorbike the previous day, according to the victim’s wife.

Jaffna magistrate Vasanthasenan ordered Jaffna police to investigate whether his death was due to stomach pain as complained by the deceased person or due to any other cause.