Varsha killing: Two more suspects die

Rafik Jalaldeen

Another two suspects in the abduction and killing of Varsha Jude were killed in a crossfire yesterday afternoon in Sardarpuram, Kanniya. A Sub Inspector and a Police constable were injured in the incident.

A team from Uppuweli Police accompanying the two suspects had come under terrorist attack. “The incident had occurred when the two suspects were taken to obtain some information regarding the murder case near the Magavaththu jungle area in Kanniya around 1.50pm”, Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunaskera said.

The police jeep had come under terrorist fire. “A group of terrorists fired at the police jeep carrying the two suspects. Police retaliated. During the cross fire the two suspects were killed and an SI and a PC sustained injuries”, he added.

Terrorists fled the area. The injured police personnel were treated at the Trincomalee Hospital. Varsha Jude Reggie(6), a student of St. Mary’s College Trincomalee was abducted on March 11 and demanded Rs. One million ransom for her release. Two days later she was found in a fertilizer bag dumped in a drain, in the heart of the Trincomalee town.

Four suspects were arrested the next day. Key suspect Oprin Mervin Renousan was killed by police when he attempted to escape from police custody on March 15. The second suspect Varatharajan Janarathan alias Jana Kumaran committed suicide on March 19 while he was in police custody.