Trader shot dead, Hindu priest abducted, tortured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 November 2007, 12:26 GMT]
A Tamil business man was shot and killed Saturday morning by unidentified armed men, while a Hindu priest, abducted Friday by armed men, was severely tortured, and is fighting for his life, civilian sources said.

A trader from Pulavar Road, Navaali North, Valikaamam was shot and killed by two armed men at his business establishment in Navaali North Saturday morning 10:00 a.m. by two armed men operating on a motor bicycle. The killers fled the scene after shooting the victim, sources said.

The body of the victim, identified as Kandiah Koneswaran, 37, has been handed over for postmortem examinations and inquest of Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Koneswaran is a father of one child.

The escalating numberof killings targeting members of the business community has created fear across the business community in Jaffna, a spokesman for the businessmen in the peninsula said.

In a separate incident, a Hindu priest was severely tortured by unidentified men in Araaly, a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled area and was found abandoned along roadside in Thunaivi in Vaddukoddai area.

The victim, Subramaniasharma Ketheswara Kurukkal, 39, father of three, was traveling Friday to meet his relatives in Thunaivi when he was waylaid by unidentified men, abducted, and was subjected to serious torture.

Subramaniasharma was left for dead along the road side by the abductors.

The seriously injured victim was admitted at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, and is still in serious condition, hospital sources said.

No information is available about the attackers.