Alleged abduction of Red Cross members:

CID advised to obtain AG’s advice

Sarath Malalasekera

Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Namal Bandara Balalle directed Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials probing the alleged abduction of two Red Cross members near the Fort Railway station to obtain advice from the Attorney General in connection with holding an identification parade for two suspects detained under the Emergency Regulations.

The two Red Cross members, Sinnarasa Shanmugalingam, 32 and K. Chandra Mohan, 28, were abducted near the Fort Railway station while waiting to leave for Batticaloa after attending a meeting in Colombo on May 31 and June 1.

On the day of the incident while waiting to go to Batticaloa five persons had told them they wanted to search them. The five had told the two Red Cross members that they were CID officers.

The Batticaloa Red Cross Society Vice President complained to Fort Police that two members were taken to a van parked outside the Fort Railway Station and went missing. Later investigations were handed over to the CID.

The Vice President had told the CID that he could identify the persons who took the two Red Cross members.

Judge Balalle directed the CID to obtain advice from the Attorney General regarding of holding an identification parade.