2ND LEAD (CORRECTION, UPDATE)

"White van" squad kills TNA MP's bodyguard

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 September 2006, 09:21 GMT]
Amparai District Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian K. Pathmanathan's security official was shot and killed Sunday morning by gunmen riding in a white van at Vinayagapuram in Thirukkovil in Amparai District, Police said. Sri Lankan counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) checkpost is located 100 meters from the site where the bodyguard was slain, according to civilian sources at Vinayakapuaram.

The deceased, Kunchithamby Kuvendran, 38, a father of two, has been serving as body guard for the TNA M.P for Amparai district K. Pathmanathan since the MP was elected, TNA sources said.

Kuvendran went from his home town Thambiluvil to Akkaraipattu, where he obtained his salary and later accompanied his friend, a fellow police constable, on his motor cycle, to Vinayagapuram bus stand, where he was shot dead while waiting for a bus around 10:40 a.m.

The body of the victim has been brought to Akkaraipattu hospital for inquest into death.

H. M. Ranatunge, Officer-in-charge of Thirukovil police, heads the investigations into the killing.

Thirukkovil is located 27 km southeast of Amparai town.