Teachers Union President shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 January 2008, 15:09 GMT]
The president of Batticaloa district Volunteer Teachers Union was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Monday night at 8:30 in Santhive'li area, Mu’rakkodaanchenai within Ea’ravoor police Division in Batticaloa district, Ea’ravoor police said. The incident may mark the first killing related to local electoral politics as Batticaloa moves towards local government elections.

The victim, Parasuraman Nanthakumar, 31, was a volunteer teacher and a resident of Santhive'li. The gun men came in search of the victim, shot at him while he was standing near his residence, and fled from the scene.

The victim, who has been serving as a volunteer teacher for a number of years has been involved in various protest rallies demanding permanent appointments for all volunteer teachers in Batticaloa district .

The police have commenced investigation into this killing.

Karuna group had requested the victim to contest in the forth coming local council elections in the district, and differences between the parties releated to this issue may have led to his killing, sources in the region said.

His body recovered by Ea’ravoor police Tuesday morning was taken to Ea’ravoor Hospital and after post-mortem examination was handed over to his relatives.

Santhive’li is located 26 km north of Batticaloa.