More skeletons found in stadium grave

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 1999, 15:04 GMT]
Investigators digging the stadium grave discovered two more human skeletons this afternoon 2.5 feet from the grave site where the bones and skulls were found on March 26. The first skeleton that was found this morning with its hands and feet tied appears to be that of a female said the Jaffna Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), S.V.Sri Rajeswaran.

Pieces of broken plastic bangles were discovered by the side of this skeleton.

Two more skeletons were found under the first one after it was carefully removed intact from the soil by the JMO.

About eight human skulls are immediately visible in the pit where the three bodies were found today.

Municipal council diggers assisting the Jaffna JMO came upon the three skeletons today when they began excavation near the pit in which human bones were first found.

The skeleton believed to be that of a female is well preserved. It is that of a well-formed person the JMO observed.

The additional magistrate, Mr.S.A.E Ekanathan, and the Jaffna JMO suggested to the officer in charge of the 10 member Sri Lankan Police team detailed to assist the stadium grave excavation that the skeleton suspected to be that of a female be sent to Colombo for forensic examination intact.

The Police officer, however, refused to do so and told them that the skeleton should to be taken apart for it to be flown to Colombo by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

The JMO therefore separated the bones of this skeleton and sealed them in a large bag. Samples of the soil were taken from the site of today's excavation to be sent to Colombo for examination.

The SLA and the Police took photographs of the grave site, the skeletons and the human bones and skulls during the excavation.

Members of the EPRLF who were present at the stadium gravesite today also took photographs of the site and the proceedings.

The additional magistrate, however, took strong exception to their action and seized the film roll from their camera.

Digging will continue Mr.S.A.E Ekanathan said.

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