Youth missing for 7 yrs. traced to Welikada prison!

A youth who went missing in Mannar seven years ago has been traced by his mother to Welikada Prison.

Anton Caniston Bikiratu was abducted from his Mullimunai home by unidentified men on 11 September 2008. His mother has complained to human rights group, politicians, ICRC and the missing persons’ commission, but to no avail. Last January, media published pictures of a Thaipongal event at Welikada prison, from which she has identified her son to be among the inmates. The mother filed a habeas corpus petition through lawyer K.S. Ratnavel, which was taken up by Mannnar magistrate Alexraja Asiriwadan on March 16. Considering the submissions, the magistrate ordered police to produce the youth before courts along with a detailed report. He also told police to find out as to why prison authorities had not produced him before courts. The next hearing will take place on March 27.