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Town Hall bomb blast |
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Mr. Ragupathy Sharma and his wife Vasanthi Ragupathy Sharma were arrested by the officials of the terrorist investigation division on February 9, 2000 at his temple residence. Later he was implicated in the Town hall bomb blast case. Currently, Ms. Ragupathy Sharma is detained at the Welikade Female Prison; where as Mr. Ragupathy Sahrma is detained at the Kalutara Priosn. Their children are looked after by a Hindu Orphanage in Batticaloa. At present, the case against Mr. and Mrs. Sharma is heard at the High Court, Colombo. The CHRD has retained a lawyer to provide legal services to Mr. Ragupathy Sharma. The case is continuing. The case has been called many times. But, they were merely calling dates.
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The story is a tragic example of prolonged detention under the PTA and ER... |
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Ragupathy Sharma, 46 Hindu priest and his wife Vasanthi, 45 were arrested by the officials of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) at his temple residence in Colombo, in early February 2000 on suspicion of being involved in the Townhall bomb blast where an attempt was made to assassinate the President. Mr. Sharma was arrested on February 9, 2000 and was produced before the Chief Magistrate of Colombo on February 18, 2000; thereafter he was detained till February 21 at the TID headquarters. Then he was handed over to CID (Criminal Investigation Division) for further interrogation. Vasanthi Sharma was arrested on February 24, 2000 by the CID and she too was detained for interrogation on the fourth floor of CID headquarters. She was produced before the Chief Magistrate on February 28, 2000, where she was ordered to be remanded till the end of the trial according to the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Section 7(2). Mr. Sharma too was produced before the Magistrate on the same date and was ordered to be remanded till the end of the trial according to the provisions of the PTA. The Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), examined him and his medical report states that Mr. Sharma had undergone severe torture during interrogation by the TID and CID. Mr Sharma was subjected to immense torture and suffered extensive injuries; there were 19 visible scars on his body. He was subjected to nearly 12 severe forms of torture. He stated that the officers inflicted severe pain to both mind and body in order make him to sign under duress an incriminating confession. Even after being remanded at the Kalutara prison, he was several times taken for interogation by the CID till 2003. Finally on May 3, 2002 Mr. and Ms. Sharma were indicted with 110 charges at the Colombo High Court, along with two more accused. All charges listed are punishable offences under the PTA and emergency regulations.Currently Vasanthi Sharma is detained at the Welikada Female Prison and Ragupathy Sharma is detaned at the Kalutara Prison.Their case against them is being heard at the High Court, Colombo. Brahmashri Chandra Iyar Ragupathy Sharma and Vasanthi Ragupathy Sharmaare are originally from Jaffna. They were displaced in Wanni due to civil war and moved to Colombo 1996, where he was the chief priest at the Shri Muniyappan Swamy - Shri Maha Kali Amman temple in Colombo 15. Their two children aged five and six at the time of the arrest are taken care of by a Ramakrishna Mission orphanage in Batticaloa. The story is about a couple who are experiencing prolonged detention of nearly six years. |
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