Killings continue in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 August 2004, 04:40 GMT]
A man, suspected to be linked to a paramilitary group, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen close to a Sri Lanka army camp in Valaichenai, 32 kilometres north of Batticaloa, Friday night around 8.30. Twenty eight persons, including a senior journalist and a university academic, have been killed in areas controlled by Sri Lankan armed forces in the Batticaloa and Amparai districts since renegade LTTE commander Karuna fled the region on 9 May this year following a lightening but ruthless assault by the LTTE.

Seventeen of those killed were linked to renegade LTTE commander Karuna, according to Police in Batticaloa.

Three were members of the paramilitary EPDP.

Five LTTE cadres and an LTTE supporter are among the dead.

Valaichenai Police said the man who was shot dead last night was brought by executioners in van. The person might be linked to a paramilitary, Police said.