Mannar judge probes death in custody

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 14:56 GMT]
The Mannar courts yesterday ordered the Police to produce for an identification parade, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers involved in the arrest of Thiruneelakandan Harikaran who died while in the custody of the SLA at the Southbar detachment in Mannar, on January 2 1997, sources said.

M.Ilancheliyan, the district magistrate of Mannar had cited 370(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, sources said.

The regulation states that if a report or evidence given in an inquiry leads to reasonable suspicion, the magistrate shall proceed with necessary action further under chapter xiv and xv. and order the Police to start a preliminary inquiry in the case.

"Three witnesses had pointed out that the Southbar army detachment where the deceased had been detained during the time of his death is not an official detention camp approved by the Ministry of Defence with a gazetted notification," the judge said.

"The victim had been assaulted in the presence of Lt. Nisanke who was in charge of Southbar army camp and this was witnessed by the villagers," said the judge.