SLA shoots dead 5 youths in Vavuniya, 1 dies in grenade explosion

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 November 2006, 11:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Friday handed over 5 bullet-sprayed dead bodies and an exploded body to Police, claiming that the youths were killed when SLA troopers retaliated to gunfire Thursday night. The sixth youth had killed himself, Friday early morning, detonating a hand grenade, according to the SLA that claimed that the youths were LTTE cadres waiting to penetrate into SLA area. The killings have taken place at Parayanalankulam 30 km west of Vavuniya town along Vauniya Mannar Road.



The youths had a T-56 assault rifle, a hand grenade, 45,000 rupees of money, fuel and biscuits in their possession, the SLA said handing over the bodies to Chettikulam police.

Police handed the six dead bodies to Vavuniya hospital Friday around 1:00 p.m. and the bodies are yet to be identified, medical sources said.

Vavuniya District Magistrate Mr. Manickavasagar Illancheliyan conducted inquest into the deaths at the hospital Friday.

The magistrate summoned the SLA officer in charge and two troopers from the site of the killings and ordered Vavuniya police to record the statements of the three SLA personnel.

The killings have taken place at Kannaddy near Kanespuram in sector 4 of the Vavuniya Police division, located close to Mannar Road, around 30 km west of Vavuniya.