Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) leader and former parliamentarian Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, has been named as a suspect in investigations into a series of shootings that claimed five lives in the Eastern Province in 2008, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court on Monday (15).
The CID told court that three suspects have been identified in connection with the killings, including Pillayan, who is currently in remand custody in relation to the Eastern University Vice Chancellor murder case. The court ordered prison authorities to produce him before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court on the next hearing date.
Meanwhile, two other suspects who had been detained under detention orders were produced before court on Monday (15) and remanded pending further investigations.
According to the CID, the investigations relate to the fatal shooting of a former police officer and another individual in Kallady on Jan. 9, 2008, the killing of two persons in Kattankudy on May 22, 2008, and the shooting death of another individual in Kannankudah area of Koththiyapulai in the Vavunathivu Police Division on Aug. 20, 2008.
Investigators said the first suspect in the cases is currently believed to be residing overseas, while the second suspect had been held in CID custody as investigations continued.
The CID said further investigations are underway. (Newswire)
