ASG Yasantha Kodagoda PC making a special statement before the Commission investigating the Bond Scam today said that people making allegations on how 8600 pages of data was derived were “illiterate”.
Yasantha Kodagoda
Ravi Karunanayake in his resignation speech yesterday questioned as to how such a large volume of data was deciphered and accused the Attorney General of a “conspiracy”.
“That is how 8600 pages were scanned and details found within 48 hours. Not because I am a genius who could go through all those pages, obviously, illiterate people would think so, but literate people will know that it was done using the search engine of the PDF file,” Kodagoda said.
Referring to how the data which detailed Ravi Karunanayake’s close association with Arjun Aloysius, including Aloysius’ request for minutes of the monetary board meetings on November 28th, 2016 – Kodagoda said it was only illiterate people who would make such allegations.
“Kodagoda can’t fabricate messages of Arjun Aloysius’ phone, and that has to be clarified, because some illiterate people are making false allegations, which only reflect the level of their literacy,” ASG Kodagoda Said in response to a question by the commission as to if the PDF file could have been altered.
When Arjuna Mahendran‘s counsel had opposed Kodagoda making the statement, Kodagoda said that the commission was the only forum he had to voice his opinion. “Where else do I say this, when these illiterate people make comments such as this,” he asked.
Yesterday members of the United National Party were in overdrive mode, accusing the Attorney General’s department of conspiring against Karunanayake and making efforts to slander the officers of the department.
S K / August 12, 2017
People in the official Bar don’t file cases for a political agenda!!!! Every case is carefully looked in to taking in to account the evidence that had been collected during the course of the police investigations. If evidence is inadequate, then the relevant investigation agency is directed to conduct further investigations until required material is elicited . People should know the procedure that is followed in the Department when filing cases before unfairly criticising the members of the official Bar .
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Mewan / August 12, 2017
I think most people understand this concept. For them anything that believe is evidence. Cannot separate their preferences from objectivity!
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Silva / August 13, 2017
The political culture in Sri Lanka is the biggest reason intelligent Sri Lankans leave the country for developed Nations…
Development is not just infrastructure and becoming a wealthy nation. You need a culture that facilitates and attracts intelligent people for the development to happen and for us to catch-up intellectually with the rest of the world…
But our politicians think they are the most intelligent people in the world…
This arrogance is going to hold back our nation and might even get us into serious trouble in the future…
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Anonymous / August 13, 2017
The politicians are so intelligent that they think they are fooling the world, and no one knows they are still going along with the China play that the Rajapaksas set into motion…
They have bought into the lie that China is going to be the next superpower without realizing that story is just out in the public to put china on a false pedestal…
the supposedly intelligent politicians who don’t do their homework expose their intentions to the world by working with a corrupt nation who they think is going to be the next superpower!!
in doing so we are also putting our nation in a dangerous place, one that might see a proxy war.
If we are not careful and China collapses starting with war in North Korea and the south china sea we will be caught red handed with all our eggs in the Chinese basket….
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Bunjappu / August 13, 2017
But for the majority poonnakku eaters, developement is to build up roads and highways no matter nothing would have been planned through such physical infrastructure projects but to be happy. At the time, roads were made they should also have planned how the investors would make use of them. That should have started in parallel, but for them, what they did it parallel was filling their pockets but building infrastructure projects.
That alone was beyond understanding of the average since they dont even have the knowledge to live in lanken metropols,b ut what talks about the real development of the civlized world.
Today I am in the US for a visit. I see, there is no good public transport in this country, each and everyone can move a to b if they have their own vehicle. else you only need to rely on taxis: But europeans countries have them both.
I THINK EUROPE s Development come for that long and that is why even former eastern coutnries do lot more better. Prag was almost like one would have visited Germany s metropols.
All in all, our people should learn to see it accordingly. Their knowledge restrict to their wells- Frogs in wells mentality
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Buramphisincho / August 13, 2017
You cant be the only man to have found many things within few hours of study going through pdfs of over 8600 pages.
But very same authorities to have failed to deliever in terms of files related to former regime, not a single incident has been touched.
What is the stand in terms of MIG deal
What is the stand in terms of Thadjudeen case
What is the stand in terms of bank deposits in Dubai bank ( that is repeatedly reported to have been making up to 18 Billions).
And other various high crimes ?
What this man treats RK so and former men with much more thoughtfulness ?
We want both to be treated in terms of law prevailing in the country.
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Jimsofty / August 12, 2017
Tamiils definitely and it looks UNP hench men are pi$$Ed off because, one thief was caught by chance. So, dome wants to jail rajapakses and those in the previous govt which AG’s Depart had done. They are upset one thief instead of getting caught in multiplae charges, he was caught just for taking bribes, money laundering charges. How come I KNOW NOTHING RAVI accepts houses as gifts in the middle of two central bank day light robberies. Even after one year,he doe snot know about it. I think ex-finance inister’s wife and daughters hide more things from him.
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Ravin / August 12, 2017
How many ministers and MPs get funding from big deal makers to protect their businesses, in the name of price controls ?
These transactions run into millions and billions during elections.
We as end consumers must pay higher prices for in the name of protecting our local industries.
Ex : Tiles, Rice, Ceramic
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Sumudu De Silva / August 12, 2017
I don’t think its fair to accuse the AG’s Department. Being in the profession for the last 20 years, I personally know the process and the workloads the state Counsels have to handle.All the Government departments and the Ministries send their legal issues and court cases to the AG’s Department for advice and representation before court. Any one can make any comment. But bear in mind that although the investigations are over and the files being set to the AG’ s department, each and every bit of evidence has to be analyzed, before a court case can be instituted in order to make a conviction.
Also be aware that in our Justice system, an accused need to be proven’ beyond reasonable doubt. in criminal matters. In essence the lawyers at the AG’s department has to go through all the evidence and decide what charges can be brought against the suspects and assure that there exist no doubt in order to obtain a clear conviction.
In summary instituting legal proceeding is a long process and cannot be rushed. The independence of the Attorney General’s department has to be preserved.
Through past experience, I know that any individual who tries to sling mud at the Attorney General department will not survive. The Legal professionals irrespective of their political allegiances will not tolerate such acts to demean the AG’s Department.
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Dayan / August 12, 2017
That search engine searches only about Ravi Karunanayaka and it does not work on MR and his clan.
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kumar / August 12, 2017
its not AG fault,its the in apt President,PM ‘s fault.
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Sudath Sri / August 12, 2017
What a strange answer from the intellectual. OMG we all know pdf document and what it can do to us. However if these guys have used pdf search and finalised the charges against a high profile like RK, what would be the evaluation against general public. This level of irresponsibility cannot be accepted from AG department because wrong submission to the courts would lead to a wrong judgement by the courts as well. Who can admit such low level review of documents against a legal proceedings. On the other hand we know there are several submissions made by FCID are pending at AG without any action therefore why this pdf technology was not used for those cases? Are those accused are powerful than the government. Ultimately with this statement peoples trust on AG department would be completely lost that’s really unfortunate.
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BlackCoat / August 12, 2017
PDF search engine cannot be used to read a full report only snitches from here and there. Sheer irresponsibility on the part of the ASG to come to a conclusion using a search engine instead of reading and digesting, seeking clarification, discussing of a 8600 page report. Sheer magic by Mr Kodagoda.
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Chandra / August 12, 2017
Whatever said and done the AG, if he is reported correctly, seems to have misplaced and misused the word “illiterate”. RK is a top thief, not an illiterate one at that.. This word could be used for the commentators who try to defend the perpetrators of this heinous crime, the bond issue, instead of standing in unison against them.
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Mewan / August 12, 2017
This is exactly right. You only need to see the ‘supporters’ that came to see him after the he quit in shame, excuse me in ‘pride’. There will be people like these who support any dirty politician either because they have been thrown some bones or just delusional. Future in Sri Lanka in good hands
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silva / August 12, 2017
it is not people who are illiterate but this buffalo Kodagoda. How on earth did this asshole analyzed all those data contained in 8200 pages in two days? Yet after two years Gotha’s signature was not verified by this bastard’s department. When the Secretary to the Bar Association was attached they took eons and eons saying various difficulties to analyze the phone records! None of the cases of Rajapakshas that have been submitted to Attorney General’s Department have been finalized and sent to courts for legal proceedings. This pig seems to be assuming that the people in this country are buffalos like him. The sooner the government get rid of this lunatic the better.
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Tissa De Silva / August 12, 2017
Where was this “Search engine of the PDF file” all this time?
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T Dumphreys / August 12, 2017
“”“That is how 8600 pages were scanned and details found within 48 hours.””
In short you are saying using a portable document format search criteria you were able to `gobble knowledge` But law is never like that because it works in permutations and combinations of different sections of the law.
I put it to you and your culture that your search criteria (questions) were dogged with malice therefore you never had that je ne sais quoi factor when in defence of your answer.
So you ended up calling the accused` illiterate` which alone proves your unfairness.
Hasn’t CBK been able to organise a nobel award or a president’s award for your findings?
Remember nothing exist in wholes and parts in their natural context.
All literature is 2D as such you end up with volumes that you should read and understand unlike 3d objects of sculpture. If a car does not start we easily have several reasons but if you were to read a book about it well it goes into volumes because several technologies are involved.
Be not disturbed at being misunderstood; be disturbed at not understanding.
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thondamannay / August 12, 2017
Sunudu De Silva, there appears to be many illiterate people writting in.
BTW, the Mastermind of the Bond Scam & the Minister in charge of the CB is still at large.
No file & not charged or summoned.
Love to know what the menue of that Breakfast meeting held at the CB premises on 26.02.2017?
Who paid for it.
What were in the minutes of that meeting with US officials?
Now, Sampanthan seeks redress from the US. Oh, in this senile age he thinks US is dictating terms to Sri Lanka. We were never a US Colony to begin with. Wonder what the faux pass here?
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Good Governance / August 12, 2017
Sum and substance of my comment is nobody should get away after plundering public funds whether members of this Government or the past. Unfortunately, the present lot when they were in opposition did make allegations and I for one accepted them generally speaking of the past lot but were not obviously able to collect hard evidence as there was no access. The police took some time and so did the AG’s Department. Even the bond affair took some time. We recall that the most senior officer was not made the AG when Mr. Wijetilake retired but a junior supposed to be a man of integrity was appointed instead presumably on the suspicion that the officer so overlooked was considered a past Government man when only what he said was there was no adequate evidence. The inadequacy of material is a fact that one should not overlook. It is so easy to launch a botched prosecution and mentally please people like us and when the culprits are acquitted we are forced to accept them as blameless. In the bond affair despite COPE findings nothing seriously moved, other than a change in the Governor’s position, until the Commission of Inquiry started working where minute details were sought after and became public. I need not analyse all that here but the evidence that was scanty have now a much clearer picture. For instance the AG’s Department did not have Aloysious’s SMS details whereas now there is access and analysis. It must be admitted that the past lot voted out of office were a smart set of tricksters than the present lot who got caught easily and therefore to catch yesterday’s plunderers won’t be easy. So let there be greater effort to catch the rogues.
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Kamal Gamage / August 12, 2017
Every one knows all the parties attached to above conversations are litterate. That means they all can only read and write.
But the trouble is the knowledge acquired by reading is definitely not applied legally, morally, fairly and equally, even though it is correctly stated in the constitution to do so.
There is no point if ables do not respect the constitution and laws. No point wasting time drafting another constitution.
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Mewan / August 12, 2017
This is really impressive piece of work that would have taken weeks even in a developed country. Instead of congratulating the AGs department for this very tedious work, which appears to have been done just using the search function in PDF files without any formal text mining software, some imbecils obviously disconsolate by the fact that their favourite rouge is now out of favour, blame the AG for not going after Rajapaksas. My understanding is that there was 8600 pages of evidence in this case. If there is such evidence, against anyone, including MR, please ask your parliamentary representative to raise this in the parliament and instigate investigation as a matter of urgency. That is why you elect your representatives. To represent your interests in the democratic system. I don’t think AG can reject any investigation if there is irrefutable evidence.
I have seen many people presenting intimate details about crimes of various people including exact amounts in bank accounts and how much was transferred to where. Either they need to send this evidence to the AGs department and demand what action has been taken on them if they feel nothing is happening. Else there should be a process to summon these people and demand they reveal this evidence and cite them for withholding evidence related to a crime – which is a serious offence.
Yet again, finger pointing is our national past-time– if me, why not him also?
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Jimsofty / August 12, 2017
Sri lankan voters do not have “your PArliamentary Representative”. They don’t represent an electorate specifically. MPS are the thives who are verbal about protecting their butts because, almost everyone is a thief. Now, they are pissed off with the AG’s department becuse, they wanted others to be tried. Now one of their thieves is caught, every one is upset. —————LEarn what Ramnil has sone some investors had left because, Ranil was the instigator of the Central bank robbery. He did it twice.
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Annesley Dias / August 12, 2017
ASG Yasantha.Kodagoda you are a bloody JVP stooge and an ardent bootlicker of the JO. [Edited out]
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Samuel Rodrigo / August 13, 2017
What are the hard facts to show that ASG Kodagoda is a JVP stooge?
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Annesley Dias / August 14, 2017
Smuel,
What are the hard facts to show that ASG Kodagoda is a JVP stooge?
Ask your spouse she could better explain! hard core
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Dhammika de Silva / August 12, 2017
The argument by some here that cases have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt before an accused is found guilty is laughable at best!In that case RK is still innocent since he is yet to be convicted in a court of law.
In comparison take the solid evidence available in the case of MR pimp Sajin de Vass Gunawardena in just one case among many against this murderer and thug.I refer readers to the case ,where the fellow after having continuously delayed payments for a sum of rupees 179 million for petrol supplied to his Balapitiya petrol shed ,deposited this huge sum in CASH at the Petroleum Corporation,immediately after MR lost on 8th January 2015.
Did any Court ,the Attorney General or Commissioner of Inland Revenue ask this crook how he ,whose only job had been as a Peon at Trico in Dubai ,had amassed so much of money in CASH ?The answer is NO.But in RK’s case he has been rightly kicked out before conviction!Clear case of political influence play at work ha!!
As for Sajin he must be laughing even through his backside!! Readers could see this for themselves by just visiting his high rise ultra luxury office at 29 Grenier Road , off Cotta Road in Borella(Lane immediately after the Keels Super Market) They could also see the number of luxury Mercedes Benz and BMWs parked there along with his bodyguards (Balapitiya thugs)This is Justice SRI LANKA style isn’t it !!!
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Jimsofty / August 12, 2017
There are so many supporters of theives. and “DON” or donkeys are ready to .let down any one just because a thief acknowedged that he was a thief.
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sbarrkum / August 14, 2017
Dhammika de Silva
Seems like Cotta Road is z place for politicians (past and present) with thugs from Balapitiya.
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Dion / August 12, 2017
Who is this guy to call others illiterate?? This fellow is nothing but sounds like a donkey. He has no authority to look down on other. Does he think GOTA is a brainy guy?? Does he think MR is a brainy guy?? Come on man…..be impartial.
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Edward / August 12, 2017
Facts are Facts, they cannot be fabricated. If someone wants to dispute about the facts presented then they have the opportunity dispute and bring evidences to dispel what was presented as facts. Some do not like facts, they hurts them.
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Edward / August 12, 2017
Facts are Facts, they cannot be fabricated. If someone wants to dispute about the facts presented then they have the opportunity dispute and bring evidences to dispel what was presented as facts. Some do not like facts, they hurts them.
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N.Wimaladasa / August 12, 2017
The UNP led Ranil Wicks want to be boosting an Economy order of that Market Economy since 1977 had been enlarge an opened to Trade, capital flow, Market deregulated, Public enterprises of privatized and Macro-economic imbalances eliminated by UNP leadership since 2015 January was a failure .
The Tax regime, banking regulations, social security institution ,fiscal rules and Judicial system has all been suppose to reform in line unsustsnsbslity of Capitalism standards that proposed by IMF and World Bank . Labor market are as flexible which is that FREE Regulation as they come advocated by 2015 January 8th UNP led “Rainbow Revolution”. The current regime said that National Economy is barely Growing! What is the problem of Sri lanka ?
The 2015 January shifted to “Good Governances and Rule of law” in all sphere of life that Not a single necessary reforms been Implemented or there is No development of Economy STRATEGY IN PLACE?
By UNP leadership?
We have look at CB Bonds scam by such political-economic background; as nexus on Judiciary point of view and legal framework actually how is that CB Bond are going to be potential of National Economics are going to be Strength of ours Nation Wealth?
The so-called UNP agenda suffering from similar problems as it was under UNP-JRJ regime since 1977 to 1994!
In fact readymade unidentified programs that fails to target economy ‘s most sever bottlenecks by misrule of Fiscal policies of UNP’s think-tank.
The aim and perspective is that UNP want builds New Enterpriser class by using Public Funds for their decaling Business ventures at the cost of Whole Economy?
At the worst CB Bond scam led by UNP core leadership did not realized that it will backfire, when ill-intentioned CB Bond scam end up by aggravating key problems elsewhere in the Sri Lankan growth of Economy and its Development .
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Champa / August 12, 2017
Yahapalanaya government came into power criticizing the former government for bribery, corruption and fraud.
As the country can see now, a top man in the Yahapalanaya government resigned due to allegations levelled at him which was brought to the notice of the PCoI by his own partners’ partner in crime, with supported evidence.
With Ravi K’s resignation, the government has accepted that one of his top men is corrupt. Therefore, there is no difference between them and the former government who were accused for same by this government.
What AG did was fulfilling of his duty as a government official. The accused finding fault with AG is a joke. His wrath should have been aimed at his own partners who seem to be falling out. Former Governor already betrayed PM at the COPE stating that he only followed the instructions of the PM. It is the mastermind who should resign not his sidekicks!
What the country sees is nothing but corrupt protecting corrupt. The citizenry have no faith in both sides.
No fraud or crime big or small can be concealed for a long time. Every crime and fraud will come to the light one day through the betrayal of its own partners in crime, which is a universal truth.
This country should be governed by people who have no need to accumulate wealth through political power and those who have a genuine desire to serve for people especially 82% of the population who concentrated in villages.
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Plato. / August 12, 2017
Over the years, the AG has lost the respect since the days of post colonial rule.For instance,in the Bandaranaike murder case it was George Chitty QC. who led the prosecution and not the AG. The line of examination of Ravi k. in these proceedings by the AG. HAS NOT been proper advocacy.After all,even the Judges have chided the AG,regarding professional standards.
Is MaRa the hero of the AG?
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Nicki Stephen / August 13, 2017
Why Attorney General can convert all document of all cases in to PDF file and use search words(other cases of OJ politician supported by Attorney General). ASG Yasantha Kodagoda PC insult them selves and Sri Lankan legal system. Legal system of other countries will laugh at Sri Lankan legal system.
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Zasrook / August 13, 2017
So called “Literate” s search engine worked so fast in 48 hrs, while none of the so called search engines ever worked to dig out the corruption of Rajapaksa and his cronies.
Don’t you dare try to insult the intelligence of the general public by calling them illiterates. It looks like lot more Rajapakse Cronies are attached to AG’s department unfortunately.
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K A Sumanasekera / August 13, 2017
Poor Galleon Ravi……He would have put a few illiterates even in the AG Department too, if he could…….But then it is the only Department where even those Thumping the Desk cheering Squad of Galleon can’t put any relos or mates……..Otherwise even Samira would have had a gig there ..And everything would have been hunky dory….And nobody including the Yahapalana suckers would have know how rich FIL & SIL are…….
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Non PhD / August 13, 2017
Nicki Stephen,
Fully agree with your statement
“The legal system of other countries will laugh at the Sri Lankan legal system “. They have been for many decades.
How about the other countries laugh about SL political system. ?
4 constitution with endless amendments since 1947.
Will the AG within the next 3 months bring at least 10 cases out of 84 Rajitha quoted.?
I bet AG will drag them (84 ) until MR regime come back to power.
Alternatively he will leave the country soon and add one more to the ever swelling SL diaspora from the South and come back when his heros come back to power.
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sena / August 14, 2017
Seems like people are worried about RK’s resignation not about how ASG went through the 8600 pages
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Annesley Dias / August 14, 2017
8600 pages in 48 hours.
Oh gosh without any sleep! This happens only in the movies
[Edited out]
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Pygmalion / August 14, 2017
Will the AG get his act together and use Multiple Search Engines to reign in MaRa?
If not why not?
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Thanga / August 15, 2017
All said and done the AG’s department is going slow on some files but pall at jet speed on others. It is claimed that there are over 49 files gathering dust at the AG’s department. These I believe are related to the corruption, murder, abduction etc that took place during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dark rule. Just to give a few examples it is good to know what is happening in the following cases.
(1) Joseph Para Rajasingham, MP was murdered on Xmas mass held at St.Mary’s Cathedral, Batticaloa on December 26, 2005. It was revealed the murder was carried out by Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan with help from Military Intelligence. Pillayan is in custody for more than a year. Otherwise there is no movement on this file.
(2) Five Tamil students were summarily executed by STF on January 2, 2006. They had been on the beach chatting among themselves. Suddenly a Jeep full of STF personnel pulled close to them and opened fire without much ado. All the students were dead on the spot. The then government claimed they were Tigers. Eleven years later the murderers are roaming the streets freely. What is the AG department doing and why is it sitting on the file this long? Contd 2/2
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