Poththuvil Muslim villagers sentenced to jail

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 February 2009, 15:43 GMT]
Tension prevails among Muslim community in Poththuvil area in Ampaa'rai district following jail sentence on 25 Muslim villagers by the Moneragala High Court, each one year rigorous imprisonment for committing offences under the State Properties Act. The Moneragala High Court Judge imposed the sentence on them last week, according to media reports on Monday.

They were arrested six months ago and had been indicted by the Attorney General for committing offences for cutting firewood in state forest. They were held in detention till last week.

Two suspects had died while in detention.

Attorney-at-Law Nizam Kaariappar appeared for the accused.

All the 25 accused pleaded guilty when the case was taken up for inquiry in the High Court.

Wives, children and relatives of them staged a hunger strike in front of Poththuvil Divisional Secretariat demanding their release. They later abandoned their fasting on the assurance that action would be taken to free them without charge.

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