130 arrested over Jaffna violence remanded

May 21, 2015

The 130 persons arrested for unlawful protest, damaging public property and assaulting police officers near the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court have been ordered remanded.

The suspects were produced at the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court today in 3 batches and remanded separately until June 01, 03 and 04.

Police said that 47 suspects were remanded till June 01, another 43 till June 03 and the remaining 40 persons until June 04.

A large group yesterday (20) staged a protest outside the Jaffna court demanding that the 9 suspects, arrested over the gang rape and murder of an 18-year-old student in Punkudithivu, be sentenced to death.

Police resorted to suing tear gas to disperse the protest, which had turned violent with many of them behaving disruptively, pelting stones at the court premises and assaulting police officers on duty.

 Five police officers were injured and hospitalized following the incident.