Madras High Court grants bail to Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees, involved in protest & fast

The Madras High Court has granted conditional bail to 15 inmates of the special camp for Sri Lankan refugees at Chengalpattu, who were arrested for alleged offences, including attempt to murder.

The case was that the petitioners, Padamaraja and others, demanding release of refugees from the special camp, organized a hunger strike on February 2.

When refugees in the camp were on hunger strike, police tried to persuade them to withdraw the fast.

It was alleged that enraged at the police’s efforts, the petitioners detained the police personnel and attacked them. Subsequently, they were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Justice S. Nagamuthu said having regard to the fact that the injured police personnel had been discharged from hospital and that the petitioners were, after all, refugees from Sri Lanka, he was inclined to grant bail on very stringent conditions.

Condition

The petitioners should execute a personal bond for Rs.10,000 each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of Judicial Magistrate-1, Chengalpattu.

They should be kept at the refugee camp at Poonamallee and should report before the camp in-charge daily until further orders.

- Asian Tribune -