Body exhumed in Kondavil, 10 youths surrender to HRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 12:27 GMT]
A body believed to be belonging to a Tamil youth was recovered buried near a desolated house in Nanthavil area in Kondavil, 5km north of Jaffna town, in the presence of Jaffna Assistant Magistrate Mr M. Thirunavukarasu, source in Jaffna said. Chunnakam Police receiving a trip, obtained legal permission from Jaffna Magistrate to exhume the remains, legal sources said.

The remains of youth, believed to have been buried three months earlier, was taken with the assistance of legal medical officer, Dr S. Balasubramaniam to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further medical examinations, hospital sources said.

Meanwhile, 4 youths from Kondavil area surrendered with the Jaffna offices of Human Rights Commission (HRC) Wednesday fearing danger to their lives from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and collaborating paramilitaries, HRC officials said.

This adds to the six youths from Kondavil area who surrendered Tuesday, and another four youths surrendered on Monday bringing the total to 14 youths in the last three days, HRC sources said.

Youths appeared at the Jaffna Magistrates courts Wednesday before being taken to Jaffna prison for protective custody on the orders of the Jaffna Magistrate, legal sources said.

With Sri Lanka Police and SLA soldiers assigned responsibilty for the security of the Jaffna prison, potential danger to the lives of the surrendered youths still remains even inside the prison, rights activists in Jaffna said.

With the additional 8 youths in kept in protective custody earlier, 24 youths are currently held in the prison.

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