Civilian, EPDP member killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 May 2006, 12:47 GMT]
Two civilians were killed in Jaffna district Monday in the continuing violence that has gripped the Peninsula, sources in Jaffna said. In Erlalai North near the border of Palaly High Security Zone, Subramaniam Thevaraj (alias Ranjan) was killed by unknown gunmen at 10:30 a.m. In Navanthurai inside the Municipal district, Michael Johnson was shot dead by unknown gunmen in front of St.Nicholas Church at 12:30 p.m. Monday, sources said.

Subramaniam Thevaraj from Kupilan, was on his way to the Multi-purpose co-operative society to buy provisions when three unidentified youths shot him at close range and escaped, sources said.

He was earlier employed in Tamil Eelam Employment and Income Section in Jaffna in the LTTE run civil administration, sources said.

Michael Jesudasan, 40, is a member of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and a EPDP candidate in the postponed local Jaffna Municipal Council elections.

The EPDP, a paramilitary and political party aligned with SL President Mahinda Rajapakse's ruling alliance, is believed to have been gunned down in retaliation to the killings by SLA supported gunmen, civil sources said.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) local election candidates have been targeted by Sri Lanka Army operated gunmen in Jaffna district.

Meanwhile, the Vimalasuriar Thehilarajah, who was seriously injured in a shooting incident in Vaddukoddai Sunday, succumbed to his injuries in Jaffna Teaching Hospital, medical sources said.