Pillayan, 3 others indicted over abduction, murder of former Eastern Un VC

The Attorney General on Monday(17) filed indictments before the Polonnaruwa High Court against former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias “Pillayan”, and three others over the alleged abduction and murder of former Eastern University Vice Chancellor Professor Subramaniam Raveendranathan.

The three other accused named in the indictment are Kathirgathambi Jeyakishan, alias “Jeyanthan”, Nimal Devsukan, alias “Jeyakandan”, and Nadarasa Nagulendran, alias “Simbu” or “Nagulan”.

The indictments relate to the alleged abduction and subsequent killing of Professor Raveendranathan, who served as Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University.

According to the case, the academic was allegedly abducted and subsequently killed during the period between December 16 and 18, 2006.

The filing of the indictments marks a significant development in the long-running case, which concerns the disappearance and alleged murder of the former university chief during the final years of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict.

Chandrakathan, a former leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), later entered mainstream politics and served as Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. He is currently a Member of Parliament representing Batticaloa.

The Attorney General’s decision to indict the four suspects means that the case will now proceed before the Polonnaruwa High Court, where the accused will face the charges relating to the alleged abduction and murder.

Professor Raveendranathan’s disappearance had remained one of the unresolved cases involving prominent Tamil academics and public figures during the conflict period.

The indictment names the four individuals as suspects in the incident and alleges their involvement in the abduction and subsequent killing of the former Vice Chancellor.

The High Court proceedings will determine the evidence against the accused and their liability in relation to the charges. The filing of an indictment does not, in itself, establish guilt, which must be determined through judicial proceedings.