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| Saturday, 22 January 2005 |
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Security | Today's Top Story | |
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by Sandasen Marasinghe Colombo High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse sentenced a youth of Railway Road, Pesalai indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act to 12 years' Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) after conviction for the attempted murder of the Pesalai Police Post OIC on March 14, 1997. Ramasami Fransis Ranjan alias Shiraj was indicted for attempted murder of Ranjan Kumarasiri with the help of another companion unknown to the prosecution. According to the accused's statement to Police, he was a member of the LTTE. He joined the LTTE at 14 years leaving the school with another friend. According to the statement, he had been weak in studies. They were longing to join the LTTE, he told Police, as Pesalai was under LTTE control by that time. He was pleased to see LTTE child soldiers of his age carrying fire-arms. At the passing out he had been given two cyanide capsules and a SMG weapon since he was small. He took part in the operation against the Pooneryn Army camp on May 25, 1992 and his group was instructed to attack army bunkers in the direction of Pallikuda. He suffered severe injuries on his thigh and later recovered. When he pleaded permission to get out of the LTTE and to visit his parents, he was punished by being employed as a kitchen helper in a camp and was released in 1994. He surrendered to Police and had to report to Police once a week. He said a few LTTE cadres charged that he was giving tips to the Police and compelled him to rejoin the LTTE, saying he would be killed. For fear of life he rejoined the LTTE. Later he attacked an Army vehicle with his companions in which a few soldiers lost lives and also engaged in a few other attacks. "On May 16, 1998 Ravindran and I was taken into custody," he said. State Counsel Azad Navavi appeared for the prosecution. |
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