Abhilash Neelakantan, a 32 year old Indian national from Bengaluru, is among 129 Jaffna Tamil youth arrested for attacking the Jaffna court House on May 20 in protest against the gang rape and murder of 18 year old school student S.Vithya at Pungudithivu on May 13, Indian officials told Express on Thursday.  

According to Indian officials, Abhilash was only a bystander watching a mob attacking the court house. He is a heart patient. He had gone out to buy lunch for himself when he was caught in the melee in front of the court house and was arrested for rioting. The case is coming up for hearing again on June 8.  

Indian officials said that Abhilash is part Sri Lankan, his father being a Jaffna Tamil. The father had migrated from Sri Lanka to Bengaluru  about 40 years ago and had married an Indian lady there. Recently, the father had sent Abhilash to Jaffna, to supervise the rebuilding of his ancestral house. On hearing about the son’s arrest, the couple rushed to Jaffna and engaged a lawyer. The Indian Consulate General is providing consular assistance.   

Meanwhile, the 14 Rameswaram fishermen arrested by the  Lankan  navy for poaching in Lankan waters off Kachchativu, were remanded till June 12. Indian High Commission officials are trying to get them released.
(The New Indian Express)