PTA detainee said tortured

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 1999, 14:16 GMT]
A 22 year old woman who had been tortured in military custody was released on bail yesterday by the Batticaloa courts. Antony Krishnaveni, had been arrested by paramilitary gunmen from the Razeek group whilst on her way to Batticaloa from her village Kaluvankerni before being handed over to the Sri Lanka Army.

She had then been detained and charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

She was charged under the PTA on the basis that she has known of the activities of two members of the Liberation Tigers and had failed to inform the authorities.

Her statement was taken Batticaloa special police inspector, S.A. Jaysinghe, under the police custody.

Her lawyer, Perinpam Premnath, argued that the statement had been taken under severe torture and thus requested the judge to order a medical examination of the accused.

As the medical report by the district doctor, S. Chandrapalan, documented the torture and said psychological pressure was probable, the judge granted bail the accused and instructed her to remain within the town limits until further notice.

He further instructed her to report in person at the Grama Sevaka's office each Sunday.

The case is to resume on November 19.