'My husband and brother-in-law dead, sister-in-law missing'

Sombre mood filled the air as families and friends of G Thavaselvan and V Janarthanan, who were shot dead by the police in Rawang on Sept 14, gathered at the funeral ceremony in Kepong today.

Thavaselvan's wife Jasminder Kaur alleged that Thavaselvan, her brother-in-law Janarthanan and another man S Mahendran, were "kidnapped and murdered."

The whereabouts of Janarthanan's wife Moganambal remains unknown.

"My husband is dead. My brother-in-law is dead. My sister-in-law is missing.

"They (police) kept calling us to give statements. How many statements can I give? There are no more statements to give," said Kaur who was visibly distraught throughout the funeral ceremony.

The bodies were then brought to Cheras for burial at about 6pm.

Kaur said her statements are consistent.

"They went out to the restaurant in a rented car. They got shot in another stolen car. That car has nothing to do with them," she said, demanding justice for the deceased.

Meanwhile, a heated argument erupted between the family's lawyer P Uthayakumar and prison department officers who brought Thavaselvan's imprisoned brother to pay his last respects.

However, the man was only allowed to visit for about 20 minutes.

Uthayakumar was heard asking the officers to extend the visiting period but to no avail.

"Please, I am also a former prisoner and I was allowed more time when I attended my mother's funeral," he was heard saying.

The incident involving the trio had stirred a controversy as police claimed that the men were members of a gang but the families of the deceased strongly denied so.

Meanwhile, Uthayakumar (above) told FMT there had been no inquest so far that had led to the prosecution of any policeman for deaths caused.

He dismissed Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador’s order for an inquest into the shooting, calling it an “eyewash”.

“I’ve attended some inquests. The whole thing, I can feel, I can sense, I know as an experienced lawyer, is a cover-up for the police.

“As for the attorney-general, there’s a police report against the police for murder. You charge these Special Action Unit members who killed these people. Only then will this whole thing stop,” he said.

Selangor police chief Noor Azam Jamaludin said in a media conference that the men had refused to stop for checks by the police and a high-speed chase ensued before the suspects' vehicle went out of control and crashed.

Noor Azam explained that the shots were then fired towards the police and the police team returned fire, killing all three. 

Police also seized two semi-automatic pistols and three parang, among other items.

Moganambal, who was with them, is said to have fled the scene.

Janarthanan held a UK permanent resident status. He and his family arrived in Malaysia on Aug 27 to visit a sick relative.

However, police claimed that there is no record of Janarthanan's arrival at any of the country's entry points.

Uthayakumar had claimed that the burial certificates indicated that all three were shot on the chest while Thavaselvan was also shot in the face. - Mkini