2ND LEAD (Correction)

3 men abducted in Colombo, killed in Valaichchenai, 1 decapitated

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 September 2006, 12:49 GMT]
Three Tamil men who were abducted in Colombo Wednesday, were found shot and knifed to death in Valaichchenai, 30 km north of Batticaloa, Thursday night. One of the victims was decapitated, two shot and killed Thursday night around 11:30 p.m. The decapitated man, a former cadre of the paramilitary group EPDP, had left the group two years ago, opposing the activities of the group. A white-van squad had visited the families of the victims earlier in the day.

The decapitated man, was identified as Anthonypillai Navaratnarajah, 30, from Union Colony, Puthkuddiruppu.

He was being chased by a paramilitary operative known as "EPDP Siva" in the area, residents said.

The other victims were identified as Chandralingam Thevanesan, 23 of Central Road, a father of one, Kalkuda and Kanthasamy Siri, 22, who displaced from Uthuchenai, Vadamunai in 1990. He was living in Pethalai on Sivan Kovil Street.

The victims had gone to Colombo to travel abroad, residents said. They were staying at a lodge on Central Road in Colombo when they were abducted, relatives of one of the victims said.

The killings have taken place at Vinyakapuram in the Valaichenai police division.

A written message was found at the site of the killing, charging the victims for grenade attacks and killings in the past in Valaichenai.

Police has brought the recovered dead bodies to Valaichenai hospital for inquest into the deaths.

The EPDP is a close ally of SL President Mahinda Rajapakse and operates as a paramilitary in Sri Lanka Army controlled areas of the NorthEast.