Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, who is in custody in connection with five killings in Batticaloa, has been further remanded until October 13.
The Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court today (29) also further remanded two other suspects, Mohamed Sifan and Mohamed Sakeed, who are described as military intelligence informants.
The case relates to three separate incidents in 2008 involving the deaths of five people in the Batticaloa District.
These include the shooting deaths of two people, including a police officer, in Kallady, the shooting deaths of two people, including a member of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), in Kattankudy, and the alleged abduction and killing of a businessman in the Vavunathivu–Karaiyakanthivu area.
Pillayan was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with the incidents, while Sifan and Sakeed, both residents of Kattankudy, were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The CID has filed a case before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court against four individuals in connection with the five killings, including Pillayan and Mohamed Boys, who is reported to be residing in London.
When the case was taken up in open court today, Sifan and Sakeed were physically produced before the court, while Pillayan appeared via video link.
The court subsequently ordered that the three suspects remain in remand custody until October 13. (Newswire)