Eastern HC discharges seven PTA, ER accused

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 February 2003, 20:39 GMT]
The Eastern High Court Judge Mr.S.Paramarajah Friday discharged seven accused indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulation (ER) when the State Counsel withdrew the indictments served on them.

One of the accused was indicted under the PTA for attacking the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) between 1987 and 1990,legal sources said. Velupillai Kantharuban of Sampaltheivu was charged under the PTA that he had committed an offence under the PTA act. Indictment was served on him in 1997.

When his case was taken up for inquiry the State Counsel Mr.P.Kumar Ratnam made an application to withdraw the indictment on the instruction of the Attorney General. Hence the Judge allowed the application and discharged the accused.

In six other cases the State Counsel withdrew the indictments against the accused. All accused were indicted for obtaining arms training from the LTTE, collecting funds for the LTTE and providing information to the LTTE on Sri Lankan armed forces. The Judge allowed the application by the State Counsel and discharged the accused.