{
  "id": 10320134,
  "title": "Police remove Thileepan statue in Jaffna",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/police-remove-thileepan-statue-in-jaffna",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T00:05:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/police-remove-thileepan-statue-in-jaffna/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Police in Jaffna have removed a memorial statue of former LTTE member Thileepan from the Thileepan Memorial Square in Nallur, following the conclusion of commemorative events marking the 39th anniversary of his death. The statue was taken away in a vehicle early on the morning of the 27th, a day after the final day of the events. Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Secretary Selvarasa Gajendran alleged that over 15 police officers arrived without prior notice, entered the premises wearing footwear, and forcibly removed the statue. The reason for the statue's removal and the legal basis for the police action have not been officially announced as of the report. Thileepan, a former political wing leader of the LTTE, died in September 1987 after undertaking a hunger strike in Nallur while making demands to the Indian Government. The memorial events were held at the site on the 26th.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}