Abducted Jaffna undergrad released after torture

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 January 2007, 12:46 GMT]
Arunakirinathan Niruparaj, the third year science student at the Jaffna campus who was abducted from Kokuvil area on 3rd January, allegedly by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and collaborating paramilitaries, was released by his captors Wednesday early morning 2:00 a.m in front of his residence, sources in Jaffna said. Niruparaj has been subjected to severe torture, can hardly speak, and has been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Niruparaj did not reveal details of the abductors or information of his torture. Relatives said that severe wounds to his body and face bore hallmarks of extended periods of torture.

Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU) in its statement to media Tuesday had urgently requested authorities concerned to ensure the safety of the students and to release all abducted students. The JUSU had also warned that it would agitate and boycott schools from Wednesday until its requests are fulfilled.

Attendance in schools dropped sharply in response to the JUSU statement though some students did attend school as the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) command in Jaffna had warned students not to boycott schools.

All school services of the Central Transport Board were suspended since the burning of one of their buses near Jaffna Hindu College on Monday.

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