SLA asked to assist murder investigation

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 December 2000, 15:43 GMT]
The Vavuniya district judge M.Ilancheliyan Monday directed the commander of the Sri Lanka army units in the Cheddikulam region to assist the court in the investigation into the murder of Kanapathipillai Selvakumar (42) of Maniarkulam who was abducted by armed persons from his home on Saturday. Selvakumar's body was found by the village reservoir yesterday.

Legal sources said that the judge had taken cognisance of the fact that a case over a land dispute was pending in the Vavuniya court in which Selvakumar was involved. The judge instructed the Cheddikulam SLA commander to help the Police identify and arrest the persons who are suspected in Selvakumar's abduction and murder.

He told the SLA in his communication today that the military is mainly responsible for the safety of civilians in Cheddikulam and for maintaining the law and order in the region.

Meanwhile, sources in Cheddikulam alleged that members of para-military group working with the army and a local official were involved in Selvakumar's murder over a land dispute case pending in the Vavuniya courts.