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PARTIALLY
SEVERED HAND WAS HANGING FROM THE ARM IN SRI LANKAN TAMIL STREET WAR,
A LONDON COURT TOLD
By Walter Jayawardhana
A Sri Lankan Tamil
man was left with his hand hanging from his arm exposing the bone in
a Tamil Gang attack that ravaged London Streets two years ago , the
city’s Old Bailey courts was told in a criminal case heard last
week.
The Tamil from Jaffna, in a short period later was to take part in a
local cricket match, was left profusely bleeding with his hand nearly
severed from his arm but still hanging, cut by a razor sharp Samurai
sword by another Tamil man in one of the worst gang warfare that ever
took place on London streets, the jury was told.
The Tamil youth exposed constantly to the violent culture of the terrorist
group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) which has been imported
here from Sri Lanka’s Wanni have divided themselves to urban gangs
who make it a point to constantly clash with other Tamils in Tamil dominated
areas in London, observers said.
Members of the “East Ham” Gang of the Tamils led by a man
nick named “Psycho” ambushed their rivals known as the DMX
gang armed with razor sharp Samurai swords , pickaxe handles etc. the
prosecutor told the courts.
As his rival attacked one of the victims Arumugam Arul Sebamalai ,23
, the gang members allegedly chanted , “Slash him Psycho, Kill
him,”the court was told.
The prosecutor said Arul was left with his hand nearly severed during
the attack in Wembly, a suburb of London, where there is a dense population
of Sri Lanka Tamils, on August 28 2006.
Prosecutor Steven Perian addressing the court said, “There was
a serious outbreak of violence between two Tamil gangs-one based in
New Ham called the East Ham gang .”
Alleged members of the East Ham gang Sethurrajah Thanabalasingham (21)
from Ramford, Kirubausarasan Gunaratnam (32) from Barking, Sebastian
Sivaneswaran (19) from Osborne RoadForest Gate, Santhos Panthaplavil
Sashidaran(24) Sasidharan (24) from Crawley, West Sussex, Edward Jag
Nathan (26) from Michem, Surrey and Kevin Gunarathnam (18) of Burges
Road East Ham, are accused of attempted murder, wounding with intent
to cause grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.
Prosecutor Perion said, that the accused East Ham Gang , at the time
of the attack consisting of approximately 20 to 25 members traveled
in five cars. During that time , he said the victims were traveling
in a single car. The victims’ car was being driven by Ashok Kumar
Tharmarajah, along Brae Mar Avenue, Wembly en route to One Tree Hill.
Acccording to the victims, the prosecutor said, that was where they
were intending to play a game of cricket.
He said the East ham Gang got out of their vehicle , armed with, pieces
of wood and pickaxe handles, and started throwing things at Tharmarajah’s
car. Tharmarajah and his friends got out of their car . “They armed
themselves with cricket bats and wickets from within the boots of their
car.”
The prosecutor said Arul recognized two members of the opposition group
as Kiruba Gunaratnama and Psycho Thavabalasingham.
The jury heard that the East Ham Gang then started throwing bottles
at the DMX Gang members and attacked Mr. Sebamalai with a sword. Sebamalai
tried to defend himself with a cricket bat that he was holding, but
he still received a deep cut to his left forearm, partially severing
the arm and exposing the bone. He was also cut on his right arm , his
hip, his back and he sustained a fracture to his head.
The fight was eventually broken up when a police van traveling back
from the Nottingham Carnival arrived on the scene.
Thevapalasingham was arrested at the scene, while Gunaratnam was arrested
hiding in a nearby street , the court heard.
Other members of the East Ham Gang were arrested after a police search
of the area.
It was alleged that Thavabalasingham later told his friends that he
had bought two Samurai swords for 80 Pounds each and would have killed
Arul, in case the Police had not arrived at the scene.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial is continuing.
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