Petition seeking arrest of Kumaran Pathmanathan filed in Sri Lankan court

January 19, 2015 04:53 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 04:57 am IST - Colombo

A petition was filed on Monday in a Sri Lankan court seeking the arrest of top LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan or KP, who is also wanted in India in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The petition was filed in the Court of Appeals in Colombo by the country’s Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

“We want him arrested for his activities. He has to answer many questions,” Vijitha Herath, a senior leader of the party, said.

KP, who took over the leadership of the LTTE following the death of Velupillei Prabakaran, was the chief international arms procurer for the group.

The Malaysian intelligence at Sri Lanka’s request arrested KP in 2011. Upon his return to the country, he was allowed to roam freely in the north of the country under security escort.

KP is wanted in India for his involvement in Gandhi’s assassination in 1991. He was on an Interpol watch list for murder of former Indian Prime Minister.

Newly-elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s top aide and spokesman Rajitha Senaratne had recently said they were trying to locate KP and investigating reports that he had fled the country.

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