Mannar explosive case remand hearing shifts to Anuradhapura Courts

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 August 2005, 17:35 GMT]
Mannar Magistrate M.N.M.Abdullah Friday allowed an application made by the Police to produce all the seven suspects including a woman arrested for allegedly transporting a consignment of claymore mines and explosives in the Anuradhapura Magistrates Court instead of Mannar court every fourteen days for security reasons. The suspects used to be brought fortnightly from Anuradhapura prison to Mannar court, legal sources said.

All seven suspects were transported to Mannar from Anuradhapura Prison Friday under heavy security, sources said.

When they were produced in court Police Superintendent Mr.Tissa Tennekoon made an application to the Mannar Magistrate Court for a change in remand order, citing difficulties in providing security for their transport, legal sources said.

The Magistrate allowed the application and told the Police that the inquiry into this case would commence in Mannar Court on filing plaints against these suspects, legal sources said.

The seven suspects were arrested on July 17 when five of them were allegedly unloading claymore mines and explosives at Konthaipiddy landing site along Mannar coast and two others including a woman were later arrested in their village on receipt of additional incriminating information. Since then the suspects have been kept in Anuradhapura for security reasons on Magistrate's order, legal sources said.