Pillayan's driver arrested for assaulting SL policeman

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 April 2011, 17:47 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police in Batticaloa arrested Tuesday the driver of the Eastern Provincial Chief Minister's vehicle on a complaint that the driver and his group had assaulted an SL Police Constable who was on duty at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, a para military group leader, is the chief minister of the EPC.

Pillayan's driver together with a councillor of the EPC, P.Prashanthan, took a person who was injured in a clash for admission in the BTH. The clash had taken place at a restaurant run by the Mr. Chandrakanthan's (Pillayan) brother Suganthan.

The driver and Mr. Prashanthan had threatened the medical officer in charge and his assistant at the hospital, forcing them to provide intensive treatment to their wounded friend.

The police personnel at the hospital intervened and heated argument ensued between the group led by Pillayan's driver and the SL police personnel on duty. The quarrel ended with assault on a police constable.

Thereafter the SL police arrested the driver and conducted further inquiry to arrest the other members of the gang involved in the assault.

Two months back, a gang led by an EPC councillor had forcibly entered into the Aaraiyampathi DS office and had assaulted the employees, threatened the Divisional Secretary and damaged the state property.

However, the SL police later released those arrested in this connection due to political pressure exerted by Pillayan.