Minister for Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Douglas Devananda on Tuesday said that he took moral responsibility for the Choolaimedu firing in 1986 where one person had died.
In an interview to Indian news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai, the minister said that he took moral responsibility of the shootout because members of the EPRLF (Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front) were involved in it.
On November 1, 1986, an EPRLF cadre had opened fire on the local people in Choolaimedu area in which one died and four others were injured. Apart from this case, the minister faced two other cases in Chennai pertaining to kidnap and criminal intimidation.
Reiterating that he was willing to face the cases as per law, Devananda said that the old issues were being raked up now by a group to gain political mileage.
Devananda and nine others were arrested on charges of murder and attempt to murder. Two AK47 assault rifles and ammunition were seized from the accused persons who were also booked under the provisions of the Indian Arms Act and Explosives Substances Act.
In November 1988, Devananda and 25 others were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a ten-year-old boy on the Poonamallee High Road for ransom, the Express News Service reported.
