Muhamalai soldiers interrogate Tamil student leader

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 February 2003, 15:25 GMT]
The President of the International Thamileelam Students' Forum, Mr.S.Gajendran, is alleged to have been subjected to intimidation and rigorous interrogation for more than two hours by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Saturday at the Muhamalai SLA checkpoint, sources in Jaffna said.

Gajendran was taken in for questioning by soldiers of the SLA at Muhamalai when he was on his way to Jaffna from Vanni with three others in a van after attending a funeral, sources said. Mr. Gajendran underwent vigourous and intimidating questioning by soldiers regarding the protest demonstration held in Jaffna condemning the attack by the SLA on LTTE women cadres, public and journalists at Manipay, sources said.

He was threatened when being questioned regarding the burning of effigies of Jaffna area commander of the SLA, Major General Sarath Fonseka, in Jaffna during the protest demonstration held Friday, sources further said.

The vehicle Gajendran and his group were travelling was also examined thoroughly by the soldiers, sources at Muhamalai said.