2ND LEAD (Update, added details)

Paramilitary cadres shot at Batticaloa Hospital, one dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 May 2006, 13:09 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen who entered the Batticaloa Hospital at 4:40 p.m. Monday shot two paramilitary Karuna Group cadres, one of them undergoing treatment for his wounds sustained on April 30 in the Tiger commando attack in Welikanda. A paramilitary cadre guarding the wounded cadre, was killed and the wounded cadre was seriously injured in the gunfire and transferred to Colombo Hospital, medial sources said. Liberation Tigers elite commando unit launched an attack on paramilitary camps located in Sri Lanka Army protected Kasankulam, close to Thibulana, located 7 km east of Welikanda in Polannaruwa - Batticaloa border.

The paramilitary cadre, Keetha Konkalan Selvakumar, 22, who was shot dead, was guarding the wounded cadre, Arasaratnam Sureshkumar, 24.

Police said that the gunmen have used 9 mm pistol to gun down Selvakumar. He was from New Boundary Road, Puthu Nagar.

Sureshkumar, from Vavunathivu, undergoing treatment in both his hands, was seriously wounded, and transferred to Colombo. He has been admitted at the hospital since May 10.

The incident took place at 9th ward, during the visit time, sources added.

Another paramilitary cadre, named Iraniyan, 19, was also undergoing treatment at the hospital.