3rd LEAD (ADDS: PHOTO)

TNA candidate, companion shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 May 2006, 11:08 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidate contesting the forthcoming Navithanveli Predeshya Sabha polls, and his companion riding with him in a motorbike on the Kalmunai Central Camp Road, Thursday noon around 1.30 p.m, said sources in Kalmunai. The shooting occured in a location about 300 meters from the police sentry post at Central Camp 11th village in Kalmunai.

The victims, Palasuntharam Kamalraj 32, and Samurdhi Development officer Paskaran Sureshvaran 34, were shot when they were returning from Central Camp on a motorbike, sources said.

Kalmunai police handed over the dead bodies to the Kalmunai Base hospital.

Election campaigning for the Saturday Predeshya Saba polls ended on Wednesday.