Judge assails Allaipiddy investigations as cover-up

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 June 2006, 02:23 GMT]
Kayts district court Judge, Mr. Jeyaraman Trotsky, rebuked the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for attempting to coverup the investigations into the Allaipiddy killing of eight civilians, when the case was taken up at the Kayts Court Monday, legal sources said. A special Committee lead by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) level officer Mahes Perera was appointed by the Sri Lanka Government to investigate into the killing that took place in Jaffna Islets on 13 May 2006.

Sellathurai Lillimalar and her daughter, Sellathurai Violet, close relatives of the eight civilians murdered in Allaipiddy, had told Judge Trotsky during the deposition they gave on the 19 May that they can identify the two Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers responsible for the murder of their relatives.

During Monday's hearing Judge Trotsky ordered Kayts Police to bring the SLN soldiers from Allaipiddy camp to appear in an identification parade, legal sources said.

Although the Special CID Committee was tasked to investigat the killings at Allaipiddy, Velanai and Puliyankoodal, and submit a report to the Kayts Courts, the Committee had faxed a directive to Officials at Jaffna Police to submit a report to the Magistrate and abstained from appearing at the Court, legal sources said.

The Police Officer from Jaffna Police who submitted a report told the Judge that he was unable to get witnesses in the killings at Velanai and Puliyankoodal, and the report only dealt with the Allaipiddy killings.

The Police report said that there are two SLN camps in the area and the statements given by the two witnesses did not contain details specific enough to apprehend any SLN soldiers. Judge Trotsky said that he suspects that the report attempts to exonerate the SLN soldiers from Allaipiddy killings and questioned how Jaffna Police and CID's can continue investigations without requesting for an identity parade.

Judge also denied the request by the Police for an extended period to submit the followup report and gave them only 15-days, legal sources said. Judge also warned the Police officier that he will not hesitate to raise the issue to higher levels if a thorough investigation is not conducted.

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