LTTE denies murdered man was member

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2005, 13:28 GMT]
A man identified as Mr.Sambunathan Sasikaran, 22, was shot dead Monday night around 8.45 in Kommathurai, 17 kilometres north of Baaticaloa. Sri Lanka army spokesman claimed the man was a member of Liberation Tigers. Mr. Sasikaran was riding a motorbike with a friend in Railway Colony in Kommathurai when he was gunned down by two men who came on a motorbike. However, a senior official of the Liberation Tigers said Mr. Sasikaran had nothing to with the LTTE.

Kommathurai is a village garrisoned by the Sri Lanka army.

Mr. Sasikaran was working in the middle east and returned three months ago, Police said.

He is from Vanthaarumoolai, a village, 22 kilometres north of Batticaloa.

His colleague escaped the shooting, Police said.