Bodies of Zaharan’s brothers to be exhumed today

By Wasantha Chandrapala-Ampara   

The bodies of the two brothers of the alleged leader of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) Zaharan Hashim, who blew themselves up in the Sainthamarathu Village in Ampara, which were buried at the Ampara General Cemetery, are to be exhumed today (7).   

The duo blew themselves up as investigators closed in on them on April 26 and samples removed from their bodies thereafter had been sent to the analyst’s office, but it was later discovered that four samples had been spoilt.  Therefore, the bodies are to be exhumed and samples from their bodies taken again after which they would be sent to the analyst for investigations, a senior police officer had revealed.   

The necessary court orders had been obtained from the Kalmunai Magistrate’s Court and the exhumation is to take place in the presence of the Ampara Chief Magistrate.   
The Deputy Director of the Ampara General Hospital Dr. Ramesh Nanayakkara said that obtaining samples from the bodies would be carried out under the supervision of former JMO of Ampara Dr. Ruchira Nadeera.