ARMY PERSONNEL FORCED TO GIVE STATEMENTS: GAMMANPILA

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila yesterday alleged that police is forcibly attempting to obtain statements from the four army personnel who had been arrested for the alleged involvement in the

The army personnel had told MP Gammanpila that their wives have been informed by the police to persuade them to give statements

abduction and murder of Prageeth Eknaligoda.mp Gammanpila alleged that during a visit made by him, the army personnel in custody had told him they were being forced and threatened to admit that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa masterminded the murder of Eknaligoda.

MP Gammanpila said Lieutenant Colonels Shammi Karunarathne, Praboda Weerasekara, Sergeant Major Upasena and Corporal Rupasena, who had been serving in Military Intelligence during the war period, had not at all met Eknaligoda.

The army personnel had told MP Gammanpila that their wives have been informed by the police to persuade them to give statements citing Gotabaya Rajapaksa was involved in the murder and it will result in the immediate release of them from custody.

Sergeant Ranbanda, one of five army personnel who had agreed with the police to give a certain statement had been released, the MP said.

Mr. Gammanpila alleged that on the pretext of carrying out investigations, the police were pressuring the army personnel to comply with their orders and indicate that Mr. Rajapaksa gave the order to Lieutenant Colonel Shammi Karunarathne via a telephone call to murder the journalist on charges of having terrorist links.