Independent candidate assaulted at Vaalaichchenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 April 2008, 16:19 GMT]
A Muslim candidate of an independent group, an ally of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was waylaid and assaulted by supporters of another political party close to Ootamawadi Girls Maha Vidiyalayam when he was returning home after attending an election meeting at Ootamawadi Tuesday night around 8:00 p.m.. A.B.Abdul Hameed, 29, father two children is a resident of Koolikadai Road in Vaalaichchenai and is the main candidate of the independent group for Kalkudah electorate. He has been warded in the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital with severe injuries.

His supporters in retaliation had attacked the political office of the United National Party (UNP) located along Mosque Road in Vaalaichchenai and damaged cycles, motor bicycles and furniture in the office. A motorbike belonged to another candidate was also damaged and later burnt down by the crowd, sources said.

Vaalaichchenai police later arrested a Muslim youth Pakeer Mohideen Feisal of McCollum Road in Vaalaichchenai in connection with the assault on the Muslim candidate and being detained in the police station,