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‘Death by ragging’ case postponed
The trial of two undergraduates of the Peradeniya university who were charged with causing the death of a first-year student -T .Varapragas a fresher at the Engineering Faculty of the University of Peradeniya- was taken up before Kandy High Court Judge Manilal Wadiyatilleke on Wednesday (23.10.2013). The trial was taken up in absentia as the suspects -two fellow undergraduates at the Peradeniya university- S. Thubkumaan and D.P. Sadiseelean had gone into hiding.Open warrants have been issued for their arrest.
The victim, Varapragas is said to have died as a result of an incident of ‘ragging’ at the university in 1997.
The accused are said to have forced the deceased –Varapragas- to perform 500 dips at the university premises. When the exhausted student fainted they are alleged to have poured water on him, which led to a worsening of his condition. He was then rushed to the Peradeniya hospital and later to the national hospital in Colombo where he died.
The Peradeniya police who investigated into the circumstances of the death of the student, initially took seven undergraduates into custody. At the conclusion of the inquiry the Attorney General charged S. Thubkumaan and D.P. Sadiseelean of abduction, causing grievous hurt and murder of fresher S. Varapragas. Evidence was led by sub-inspector T.M. Dissaanayake and sergeant Wijeyaratne. The case was postponed. Sergeant W.D.S. Upali Dharmadasa appeared for Peradeniya Police. State Counsel Miss Kushika Kumarasiri prosecuted.
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