TNPF women’s organiser arrested for obstructing police duties

The Vadamarachchi - East women's organiser of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) has been arrested by the Maradankeni Police on charges of obstructing the duties of two officers of the Police Intelligence Unit. 

The suspect, identified as Sathgunadevi Jagatheeswaran, was produced before the Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court, where she was remanded in custody till June 7. 

The arrest stems from an incident that took place on June 2 when TNPF Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and a group of his supporters were involved in a heated argument with two police intelligence officers when the former arrived at the Thalayadi grounds for a public meeting. 

Police claim that the incident occurred when officers arrived on the scene and asked the group to leave the area as their meeting was disrupting students sitting for the GCE Ordinary Level examination at the nearby Thalayadi Roman Catholic Mixed School. 

The TNPF women's organiser was arrested for allegedly obstructing the duties of police intelligence officers and for organising a political meeting at the site of an examination centre. 

The case is due to be taken up again tomorrow (7) and Maradankeni Police are conducting further investigations. 

By Romesh Madushanka