26 April 2022 01:38 pm Views - 4366
The remains of the victims killed during the explosion in Sainthamaruthu in 2019 are to be exhumed tomorrow to obtain another DNA sample to find out whether the body of Pulasthini Rajendran alias Sara Jasmine, the wife of Easter Sunday suicide bomber Muhammadu Hasthun, was among them, the Police said.
Kalmunai Magistrate’s Court has granted permission for exhumation at the Ampara Cemetery.
Easter Sunday bomber Zaharan Hashim's brother Mohamed Rilwan blew himself up at home on April 26, 2019, in the Sainthamaruthu area in Ampara, following the Easter Sunday attack on April 21, 2019.
The Police said that investigations had revealed that 17 people, including adults and children, were killed in the bomb explosion in Sainthamaruthu.
However, DNA tests were performed on two earlier occasions on the remains of the victims to determine the identity of Sara Jasmine.
However, the tests have not revealed that Sara Jasmine's body was among the remains.
Accordingly, the investigating officers have decided for a re-examination of the remains
The Police said the remains would be exhumed with the participation of the Ampara Magistrate and the Government Medical Examiner along with the Judicial Medical Officer and all the former Police Investigating Officers who were initially involved in the investigation. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)