Technical Officer shot dead in Thenmaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 November 2007, 16:20 GMT]
Two unidentified motorcycle gunmen, following behind the Chief Technical Officer of Chaavakachcheari Predeshya Saba on his way home on motorcycle after work Wednesday evening, shot him dead at Yattaa’lai, Va’ra’ni where the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) 52nd Brigade base is located, sources in Kodikaamam said. The officer had moved from his village Yattaalai to Inparuddi in Vadamaraadchchi due to continuous death threats by SLA and SLA-backed paramilitaries, the sources added.

The officer shot dead was identified as Vellupillai Sabapathipillai, 48, a native of Thaava’lai, Yattaalai, Va’ra’ni in Thenmaraadchchi. He is the father of two children.

His wife identified Friday the body recovered and handed over to Jaffna Teaching hospital mortuary.

The road along which he was riding home on his motorcycle when the killers shot him passes through this HSZ area, close to his home village.

Sabapathipillai, a prominent social worker and a model farmer, was actively assisting several public organizations in Thenmaraadchchi.

While serving in Batticaloa district earlier, Sabapathipillai was imprisoned for two years on false charges by the SLA that he was a supporter of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), residents of Chaavakachcheari said.

Sabapathipillai had served several institutions including Jaffna Municipal Council and Chaavakachcheari Town Council.