Pillayan’s closest political ally, former Provincial Councilor K. Pushpakumar alias Iniyabharathi, who serves as the Ampara District Organizer of the TMPV party led by Pillayan, and one of his followers were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today (06).
The arrest followed a lengthy investigation by the CID
Their arrests follow a lengthy investigation by officers of the Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Unit of the CID into a series of organized crimes, including extortion, kidnapping, murder, enforced disappearances, use of firearms, and the operation of torture chambers in the Eastern Province between 2005 and 2008.
Iniyabharathi had served as the head of an armed camp in the Thirukkovil area under Karuna Amman’s faction, which defected from the LTTE in 2004. He also served as the Ampara District Presidential Coordinating Officer for the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), which Karuna Amman represented, and as a Provincial Councilor in the Eastern Province from 2012 to 2015.
Suspects of a Series of murders in Thirukkovil
His party leader, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, is currently under arrest and being questioned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with the abduction and disappearance of former Eastern University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Subramaniam Ravindranath, in Colombo on December 15, 2006.
The crimes linked to Iniyabharathi and his associates, as revealed during investigations, include:
07.02.2005 – Killing of six people, including TNA MP Ariyanayagam Chandranehru, in the Pulleyar Adi area of Welikanda, Polonnaruwa.
09.05.2007 – Killing of Johnson Jeyakanthan alias Sindujan.
28.06.2007 – Killing of Pillainayagama Udaya Kumar, Chairman of the Thirukkovil Pradeshiya Sabha.
7.07.2007 – Abduction of Sivanadigan Alagu Rasa, a resident of the Thirukkovil area.
20.04.2008 – Murder of Grama Niladhari couple Kandaiya Nagarasa and Kanagaratnam Anandi in the Pandirippu area, Kalmunai Police Division.
25.09.2008 – Abduction and murder of Thirumal Thiruvelvam, a resident of Thirukkovil Vinayagapuram.
21.11.2008 – Shooting and killing of Rasaiya Kopulan, a resident of Thirukkovil Vinayagapuram, and shooting and wounding his mother.
21.12.2022 – Investigations are underway to determine their involvement in the arson attack on the Akkaraipattu Court.
According to the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) reports, Iniyabharathi has been named as a person involved in murders, kidnappings, torture chambers, and the use of firearms in the Eastern Province.
Police state that the CID is continuing further investigations into the suspects.
