Paramilitary leader killed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 September 2005, 04:52 GMT]
The leader of the Razeek Group, Mr. Sivaguru Navaratnarajah, 38, known as 'Kanthy', was killed in a grenade attack by unidentified attackers Wedensday morning. The attack took place at 6:25 a.m. inside the high security zone in Batticaloa town where Razeek group's well fortified military camp attached to Sri Lanka Army base at Lake Road is located. 'Kanthy' was rushed to Batticaloa Hospital with serious injuries and died at the hospital, Police said. He was in charge of Razeek Group since 'Razeek', the feared leader of the group was killed in 1999. SLA soldiers and police opened fire, cordoned off and searched the area following the attack, civilian sources said.

'Kanthy' was targeted by the attacker from a neighbouring household when he was in the bathroom, according to Batticaloa Police.

'Kanthy', born on September 10 in 1967, joined Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) in 1983.

He joined hands with 'Razeek' (Muthtulingam Ganeshakumar) in 1996.

The Razeek Group was one of the most effective paramilitaries that were involved in counter insurgency operation against the Liberation Tigers by SLA Special Forces in Sri Lanka’s east coast.

The group began steadily losing its counter insurgency role since its feared leader, 'Razeek' was killed in May 1999.

The group is attached to ninth battalion of the Sri Lanka army’s National Guard (9 SLNG), a territorial unit comprising largely of paramilitary operatives and dropouts from regular military regiments.

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