Public seek answers from Chemmani evidence

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 February 2000, 21:22 GMT]
Evidence in the Chemmani mass graves case were displayed at the Jaffna Central College today for identification. The evidence was desplayed from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Nearly 200 people came to find if any of unearthed objects belonged to relatives who have been reported 'missing'.

Among these, a nose-stud and under-garment were identified as belonging to Sumathy Sockalingam, her relatives said.

According to the relatives, she had been abducted by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers from her home.

Ex-Sri Lankan Army Corporal Rajapaskhe who was testyfying in another rape and murder case said hundreds of young men and women arrested by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and burried at Chemmani.

Exhumation of the alleged grave site has so far revealed remains of 17 skeletons.

More than 600 people were reported missing during 1996 and 1997 after the SLA troops took control of Jaffna.