Razeek cadres on assault charge

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 January 1999, 17:06 GMT]
Two members of the Razeek group, a section of the EPRLF that operates as an arm of the SLA in the Batticaloa district were produced in court before district judge Mr.J.Viswanathan today by the Police for assaulting a woman in Mandoor, 26 kilometers south west of Batticaloa.

One of them, Sellathurai Rajenthiran, had been married to the woman, but had separated from her some years ago. The woman had gone abroad thereafter, having found employment in a middle east country. She had returned to Mandoor recently.

Rajenthiran who had nurtured a hatred towards his estranged wife went yesterday to Mandoor with a hand grenade and rifle along with two of his colleagues from the Razeek group's camp in Batticaloa town to abduct and beat her up, according to her complaint to the Police.

Before the Razeek group men could apprehend the woman, she had escaped from their clutches and run to the STF camp that is located nearby.

The STF who heard her complaint, set out into the village and apprehended her ex-husband and one of his armed colleagues. The other escaped.

Rajenthiran and his comrade were severely assaulted by the STF commandos despite their cries that they were members of the Razeek group. Later they were handed over to the Police.

An STF officer in the area said that his men will never tolerate the impudence of the Raazeek group in the southern parts of Batticaloa which are under their supervision.