Vavuniya High Court Judge M Illanchelian yesterday (08) sentenced to death the former leader of the People’s Liberation of Tamil Elam (PLOTE) in Vavuniya, S Nadumaran, who was found guilty of shooting and killing an obstetrician and gynaecologist of Vavuniya Hospital, Dr Meera Mohideen, in 2000. He had been shot dead while leaving the hospital at around 6.30 p.m. on the evening of April 20, 2000.
Former Member of Parliament Dr. S. Sivamohan, the owner of a private hospital in Vavuniya, testified during the trial, and in his testimony he said that he worked at the Vavuniya General Hospital at the time of the murder. He said the specialist obstetrician was shot and killed outside the door at around 6.30 p.m. after he left the hospital after finishing his duties in the evening.
The police who investigated the incident found four empty cartridges of 9mm pistols at the place where the doctor was killed, and based on the evidence, the police arrested Nedumaran, who was the leader of the Vavuniya PLOTE at the time.
During investigations, a 9 mm type pistol was found with Nedumaran, and the government analyst report stated that the pistol and the four empty ammunition casings found lying on the ground at the place of the shooting were compatible with each other.
Based on the scientific evidence and the testimony of those who witnessed the incident, High Court Judge Illanchelian sentenced the former PLOTE leader to death.
