2nd lead:

Killings escalate in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 August 2004, 04:13 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a person suspected to be linked to renegade LTTE commander 'Karuna' in the early hours of the morning Wednesday around 1.30 a.m. in Kiran, 27 kimoetres north of Batticaloa. He was riding a motorbike when the gunmen ambushed him at Kiran junction, Police said. Another person beleived to be an army informant linked to 'Karuna Group' was shot dead Tuesday night around 7.20 p.m. in Kaluwaanchikudy, 24 kilometres south of Batticaloa.

The person who was shot in Kiran has been identified as Sivrajah Sivaseelan, 28, manager of the Kiran Multi Pupose Cooperative Society, a close associate of Karuna. The gunmen took away his motorbike, according to Valaichenai Police investigating the killing.

The man who shot dead Tuesday night in Kaluwaanchikudy was identified as Mr. Seniththamby Yogarajan of Central Camp on the border between the Batticaloa and Amparai districts.

He was residing in Kallady, suburb on the southern outskirts of Batticaloa town.