A candidate of the EPDP at the last NPC elections, accompanied by three accomplices, is attempting to grab privately owned land between the Navatkuli Junction and the Palmyra Research Institute amounting to hundreds of acres. This person is Sethu Thedchana Murthy (Pulavar). He lives near the Pillaiyar temple in Kantharmadam,Jaffna and is a marriage broker. Inquiries reveal that he has been involved in many fraudulent activities. His accomplices, one of whom is a well built young man, were not ready to divulge their identities.
The Pulavar is a dark stocky man with milky white hair and a bushy milky white must ache. Photographs of these individuals are available.
The ‘Pulavar’ originally claimed to be a descendant of the original owners of a part or whole of this land. However, another person calling himself Arunachalam, who also describes himself as a descendent has in a telephone call claimed that the Pulavar has been given the power of attorney to act on his behalf. The person who called himself Arunachalam warned that there will be serious consquences, if there is no compliance with their demands.
A serious situation is developing in Navatkuli, which may involve serious violence, because of the probable involvement of the EPDP or its cadres and/or members.
The current owners of land in the area ( I am one) should be aware of this development. A similar effort by another or affiliated group in December’ 2013 failed because of the collective action of some who own lands in the area described.
Many of these individuals are wondering whether Tamil crooks and fraudsters have a free reign in Jaffna yet and whether they yet have political backing from the likes of the EPDP.