A-9 barred for PTA suspects' transport

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 April 2002, 22:01 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army and the Police have refused permission for the Prison officials to transport suspects who are detained under the Prevention of terrorism Act (PTA) to Vavuniya High Court through A-9 highway from Jaffna.

Several PTA suspects who have been indicted in the high courts of Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Colombo are now kept in Jaffna remand. Hence the refusal of the SLA and Police to transport them to the respective courts through the A9 highway have caused logistic problems to the Prison officials, court officials said.

On the instruction of the Jaffna Magistrate Mr.R.T.Viknarajah, prison officials Friday took four suspects in their vehicle through Jaffna-Kandy road to be produced in Vavuniya High Courts.

Government troops had, however, stopped them at Muhamalai checkpoint and returned them to Jaffna. The SLA told the prison officials to obtain permission from the Police to transport PTA suspects through A9 highway outside Jaffna.

Police officials in Jaffna has, however, said that they could not permit PTA suspects be taken through LTTE held area for security reasons. The A9 highway between Muhamalai and Omanthai is under the control of the LTTE, sources said.

The Prison department officials brought the matter to the notice of the Jaffna Magistrate, who said the matter would be reported to the Attorney General.