K.P. not in custody, says Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka announced on Wednesday that Kumaran Pathmanathan, alias K.P., once the main arms procurer for the Tamil Tigers, was not in custody.

Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalle told presspersons, in response to a question, that no legal action could be taken since there were neither complaints nor evidence against him.

Later, a local wire news agency quoting the DG, MCNS, blamed the media for misquoting him. “Kumaran Pathmanathan who is under special protection was permitted to engage in his NGO work and not released as claimed by media” the DG told the agency.

However, a later clarification said that he was provided protection for his own safety. A local wire news agency quoting the DG, MCNS, blamed the media for misquoting him. “Kumaran Pathmanathan, who is under special protection, was permitted to engage in his NGO work and not released as claimed by media,” the DG told the agency. “This does not mean that he has been released without anything to worry about,” one top source close to the development, told The Hindu.

But according to Interpol, K.P., also known as Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam, aged 57, is wanted by India in connection with the following categories of offences: “Life and health, Terrorism, Crimes involving the use of weapons/explosives.” The internet page, ( >http://www.interpol.int/Wanted-Persons/(wanted_id)/1998-4743 ) asks people to contact “your national or local police”, “if you have any information” on this person.

K.P’s name is missing from the Indian CBI site, which lists red-corner notice persons wanted in India. K.P. cut a deal with the Sri Lankan government and was under its protection ever since he was captured in a South East Asian country and brought to Sri Lanka in August, 2009.