Naranthanai murder case accused to be tried in High Court

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 November 2003, 16:11 GMT]
The Jaffna Magistrate, Mr.R.T.Viknarajah, on Thursday committed the four accused in the Naranthanai murder case to stand trial in the High Court at the end of the non-summary proceedings, stating that there was prima facie case against the accused, legal sources said.

In this case, four members of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Mr.Napolean, Mr.Mathanarajah, Mr.Eehairajah and Mr. Karunakaramoorthy and several unidentified persons faced several charges, including the murder of two persons Kanishtan and Perambalam in December, 2001.

The accused had also been charged for causing grievous injuries to eighteen persons including Messrs M.K.Sivajilingam and Mavai Senathirajah who are currently Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians. One of the accused, Mr.Mathanarajah, is currently the EPDP’s Jaffna district parliamentarian, legal sources said.

According to the prosecution, the accused had committed the offences when a group of TNA activists had gone to Naranthanai in Kayts division in Jaffna district for conducting election campaign during the 2001 December general election.

The Magistrate further directed the court registrar to send the case record to the Attorney General for further action, legal sources said.