ABDUCTED JOURNALIST RELEASED UNSCATHED

The widely condemned abduction yesterday, August 29, morning of Sooriyan FM Tamil radio station News Manager Nadarajah Kurubaran ended this morning with his unscathed release by the abductors. He was abducted by unidentified armed men yesterday morning at around 4:15 a.m. near his residence at Pintaliya Road, Mount Lavania while he was driving towards the radio station located in Colombo Fort, according to reports. A roadside beggar is said have witnessed the scene of gunmen intercepting his vehicle and bundling him into their white van. The wife of the abducted journalist lodged a complaint with the Mt.Lavania police about the abduction at about 6:00 a.m. after seeing his abandoned vehicle about 200 yards from the residence.

Journalists' organizations including the Free Media Movement led by Sunanda Deshapraya were quick to stage a protest demonstration at about 11 a.m. in front of the Fort railway station while the abduction came under strong criticism from President Mahinda Rajapakse and many Tamil political leaders.

The journalist was blindfolded and his hands were tied behind his back by the abductors but he was not treated harshly, according to reports. The abductors who kept him blindfolded all throughout had questioned him mainly about his family background, the reports said.