Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, and two alleged military intelligence informants have been further remanded in connection with investigations into the killing of five people in Batticaloa.

The Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court today (29) ordered the three suspects to be further remanded until October 13.

The case relates to several incidents in Batticaloa, including the shooting deaths of two people, including a police officer, in Kallady in 2008; the shooting deaths of two others, including a member of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), in Kattankudy; and the abduction and brutal killing of a businessman in Vavunathivu.

Pillayan, who is a suspect in the cases, had been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) subsequently arrested two Kattankudy residents, who are alleged to have served as informants for military intelligence.

The CID had filed a case before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court against four individuals, including Pillayan and a Kattankudy native currently believed to be residing in London, in connection with the five killings.

When the case was taken up in open court today, the remanded suspects were produced before the court in person, while Pillayan appeared via video conferencing.

Following the proceedings, the Magistrate ordered Pillayan and others to be remanded until October 13. The court also ordered that a fresh warrant be issued against the suspect who is believed to be hiding in London.