Two Thenmaraadchi youths file FR petitions in Supreme Court

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 June 2007, 11:11 GMT]
Two Tamil youths, natives of Thenmaraadchi division in Jaffna district now being detained in Welikada prison under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) since their arrest on June 27 last year, filed fundamental rights applications in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Thursday begging the court to declare that their fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution have been violated due to their illegal arrest and detention, legal sources said.

Ganeshamoorthy Jeyaruban, 26, of Allaarai, Meesaalai south and Kanapathipillai Girishanthan, 18, of Kodikaamam, petitioners also seek the court to order their release and one hundred and fifty thousand rupees as compensation.

Counsel Mr.V.Ponnambalam filed these FR applications separately on behalf of petitioners.

Sergeant H.J.Jayatilake of Veampiraay army camp who arrested the petitioners, Kodikaamam Police Officer in Charge, SLA Commander, OIC of the Terrorist Intelligence Unit, OIC of Kaangkesanthu'rai Police Station and Attorney General have been cited as respondents, legal sources said.

Two petitioners were arrested at two different locations on charges that they were in possession of claymore mines, grenades, suicide squad kits and explosives given by LTTE for safety.

Later they were handed over to Kodikaamam police. Thereafter both petitioners were airlifted to Colombo and were detained till they were produced in court.

Petitioners state in their FR applications that they were not in possession of claymore mines, grenades and explosives at that time of time. They were also not informed of the reason for their arrest. They were subjected to torture and inhuman treatment in Kodikaamam police station and later in Colombo police station while being interrogated by police officers. They were forced to sign documents prepared in Sinhala by police officers who interrogated them. They were not provided with any translation, the petition said.