EPDP accused of illegal cremation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 April 1999, 19:06 GMT]
Four EPDP members were arrested and produced in court yesterday accused of cremating the body of one of their members, Ramasamy Arumugam, before an inquest into his death could be conducted.

According to the EPDP, Ramasamy Arumugam, was killed in an accidental explosion on Delft island in April.

The Village officer for Neduntheevu central-east, P.Kathiresan, had been ordered to appear before the court for consenting to the cremation but was not present yesterday.

The additional magistrate for Jaffna and Kayts, Mr.S.A.E Ekanathan, presiding over the hearing, instructed the Police to arrest the village officer.

The magistrate allowed personal bail of 25000 rupees each for the four EPDP members; Kandaiah Navaratnam, Rangan Ganeshan, Thangarasa Supathiran and Sellakili Mathiyaparanan.