Pavement trader shot dead in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 September 2007, 11:13 GMT]
An unidentified gunman shot dead a pavement trader along Muneesvaram road in Jaffna town Thursday around 10:00 a.m and escaped from the scene, sources in Jaffna said. The trader is the third pavement vendor to be shot in broad daylight in the heart of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security Zone, the sources added.

The victim was identified as Tharumalingam Kokilaventhan, 38, a family man from Va'n'naarpa'n'nai area in Jaffna.

Most foot-wear shops are located along Muneesvaram Veethi in Jaffna.

Many businessmen had already left Jaffna peninsula due to killings, death threats, abductions and extortion.