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Minister of Interior John Amaratunga has agreed to order an impartial inquiry into the killing of two Muslim Youth at Samanturai on Ramazan Day December 16 as requested by Port Development, Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister Rauff Hakeem said a Press release issued by the Ministry of Ports Development, Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs yesterday.

In a separate news release, the Defence Ministry said the two Muslim youths arrested by the STF on December 15 were later killed in a confrontation between the STF personnel who took them into custody and a group of Tigers who lay in ambush, the Defence Ministry stated yesterday.

It said the Ministry would take action against any STF officer if there was evidence to the contrary.

The release said: "At Weeramuni in Samanturai Police area, the terrorists who lay in ambush, fired at the vehicle. The STF officers jumped off the vehicle and confronted the terrorists. In the confrontation the two Muslim youths were killed and the STF officers sustained minor injuries. Since the LTTE terrorists had taken cover behind the shrub jungle, it was difficult to target them.

"From the evidence available and the observations made at the scene, it is clear that the STF vehicle had come under attack and the two suspects had died as a result of the LTTE fire.

"On 15.12.2001 around 2030 hours, STF personnel attached to STF Base, Karativu, arrested the following two Muslim youths at Nindavur, when they were in possession of the following items: one pistol, one hand grenade and eight rounds of 9 mm ammunition.

1.) Pitchaithamby Muhamadu Nasheer, aged 35

2.) Pitchaithamby Muhamadu Hassan, age 30

both of Bank of Ceylon, Road, 541/3, 14th Street, Nindavur.

Around 2 p.m. on 16.12.2001, the two suspects in the custody of Sub Inspector Nalinda and PCC 24786, 31949, RPC 41805 and PCD 34051 were sent in Land Rover bearing No.58-1046 to the Ampara Special Investigation Unit.

Inquiries made in this regard revealed that the LTTE terrorists had been waiting in ambush to take on the STF route clearance patrol who were due to pass that point around this time, however since the Land Rover had happened to be at the scene, they had fired at the Land Rover and fled the scene.

OIC Sammanturai visited the scene and conducted inquiries and the evidence of the available witnesses was led before the Kalmunai Magistrate. Three Tamil civilians who had happened to be close to the scene at the time of this incident had made statements to the Police. Their names are as follows:-

1) Sivarajah Pradeepan, age 20,

Veedu Kittan, Weeramunai 04, Samanturai.

2) Irulandi Ravichandran, age 30,

Hindu Housing Scheme, Weeramunai 4, Sammanturai

3) Dharmarajah Ravichandran, age 19,

Kovil Road, Weeramunai 04, Sammanturai.

Their evidence will be led before the Magistrate on 19th December, 2001.

From the evidence available and the observations made at the scene, it is clear that the STF vehicle had come under attack and the two suspects had died as a result of the LTTE fire. Verdict of the Magistrate will be known on 19.12.2001. If there is any evidence contrary to the evidence so far recorded by the Police, such evidence will be placed before the Magistrate on 19.12.2001.

Normalcy has since been restored.

Meanwhile, Minister Hakeem accompanied by Parliamentarian Anver Ismail was due to meet Minister Amaratunge and DIG (Police Special Task Force) Nimal Gunatilleke yesterday to discuss this matter further, the release added.

Minister Hakeem has also requested the people of Samanturai to remain calm and assist in maintaining law and order in the area without falling prey to the conspiracies hatched by saboteurs to disrupt the cordial relationship existing among the Police, the Special Task Force and the residents in the area.

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