Police blamed for murder

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mohammed Haniffa Mohideen (60) was shot dead at point blank range around 12:00 noon today in his home at Aiyankerni in Eravur, 6 km north of Batticaloa, allegedly by a Sri Lankan policeman, said sources in Batticaloa.

Mohideen, a labourer, who had just returned from Kalmunai, a town south of Batticaloa, was seated in the hall of his home when he was shot twice, first through the head and then the

heart, said sources.

Relatives claim that Mohideen had had problems with policemen at a police post nearby, because they repeatedly visited his house and harassed his daughter.

Relatives said that the policemen even had the habit of peeping in when the girl was bathing.

Mohideen, incensed by the behaviour of the policemen had reprimanded them severely on a number of occasions during the past week.

Following the incident A.Mowlana, MP (United National Party, Batticaloa District) has faxed Anuruddha Ratwatte, the Deputy Minister of Defence, urging that an inquiry should be held on the shooting and for the policemen involved to be transferred immediately.

He has also said that the killing of Mohideen was an act of vengeance because he had prevented his daughter from being raped at gun point.

The town, comprising a majority of Muslims, was appalled by the killing and the audacity with which it was carried out, according to residents.