BBC News Online: World: South Asia

Student Tamil Tiger suspect in court

A student who was arrested in Sri Lanka on suspicion of being a supporter of the Tamil Tiger rebels has appeared before a district court in the northern town of Jaffna.

The student, Krishnasamy Thivyan, said he'd been beaten by security officials while in custody and had suffered injuries to his back.

The judge has asked security officials to submit a medical report on the student.

Krishnasamy Thivyan's arrest prompted a protest from thousands of students in Jaffna.

They boycotted classes for a week, claiming their colleague had been beaten by security forces to get a false confession.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service