The Hindu : Front Page : Magisterial probe ordered into firing

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Sunday, Oct 07, 2007
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Magisterial probe ordered into firing

S. Vijay Kumar

Four Sri Lankans begin indefinite fast in Madurai central prison

MADURAI: A magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the incident in which a Sri Lankan national, Warnakulasooriya Canicius Fernando, was shot dead by a security guard in front of the Madurai central prison on Friday.

Top officials visited the scene of firing.

“Prima facie there is a need for a full-fledged magisterial enquiry into the incident. Further action will be based on the findings of the enquiry. We have already sent a preliminary report to the Government,” Collector S.S. Jawahar told The Hindu on Saturday.

Senior officials from the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission, Chennai, held discussions with jail authorities. “We met senior officials. They say he (Fernando) ventured into the high security zone. The enquiry is not yet over,” said C. Thasin of the Deputy High Commission.

Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) R. Sekar, who visited the prison, said the place where Fernando was shot was a ‘sterile zone.’ While there was a separate entry for visitors, he chose to walk straight to the main gate. “A stranger coming in and not answering questions raises serious doubts. It was an emergency situation and the guard had to take a decision. There was no crowd or mob to give a warning before opening fire,” Mr. Sekar said.

Four Sri Lankan prisoners — Thompe Joqunenu Kaushan Makiriququo, Kurugulasuriya John Visthiran Fernando, Sebastian Francis Piqaredu and Kurugulasuriya Sujan Kumara Fernando — whom Fernando had come to see in the prison, refused food on Saturday and announced an indefinite fast in protest against the firing. A few more prisoners joined the fast, jail sources said.

Fernando was a functionary of the Sea Street Kudapadu Fishermen Federation at Negombo in Sri Lanka. He came to Ramanathapuram on September 28 where a local court had released the fishing boat Devdu Prasamsa. Family members, who were informed about his death by the police, are expected to arrive here on Sunday.

The body has been kept in the Government Rajaji Hospital mortuary.

Compensation sought

A. Kathir, executive director of Evidence, wanted the Government to grant a relief of Rs. 10 lakh to the family members of Fernando. A fact-finding team of Peoples Watch sought action against the Jail Superintendent and other staff on duty.

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