Colombo fakes autopsy of Tamil Nadu fisherman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 May 2011, 15:58 GMT]
Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were reported missing in the seas off Neduntheevu (Delft) islet in Jaffna in late April. Later, a decapitated body bearing a tattoo mark of The Cross on one of the arms was washed ashore and was identified as that of one of the missing Tamil Nadu fishermen. The family of the victim came to Jaffna, received the remains and conducted the burial at Naavaanthu'rai Church. Meanwhile, the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) from Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Dr. Sivarupan, who conducted the autopsy report in Jaffna was summoned to Colombo on Tuesday this week to sign a forged autopsy report by medical authorities in Colombo, informed sources in Colombo said.

Dr. Sivarupan, who conducted the autopsy report, had earlier revealed that the Tamil Nadu fisherman whose body was found at Delft in late April had internal injuries and pins inserted into the body.

On Tuesday, he was summoned to Colombo and questioned by Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ananda Samarasekare and Colombo South JMO and the Kandy JMO for nearly three hours challenging him on his evidence in the autopsy report.

The JMOs in Colombo have also inquired on whether the Jaffna Teaching Hospital had adequate facilities to conduct the autopsy.

Dr. Sivarupan was ‘advised’ by the panel of doctors at the Colombo Judicial Medical office to agree to the forged report prepared by them and was warned that if he refused to sign the forged report he would have to face the consequences.

The forged Colombo report will be officially handed over to the Indian government. In the report, natural causes are now cited as the reason for the death, informed sources in Colombo further said.

In the meantime, Tamil Nadu fishermen have said that they had seen a trawler with four fellow fishermen under the custody of Sri Lanka Navy for more than 3 hours in late April.

Colombo authorities forge a crucial evidence that established a need for inquiry against the Sri Lanka Navy for the torture and murder of the Tamil Nadu fisherman, sources in Colombo said.