2 civilians shot dead in two separate incidents in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 July 2008, 13:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers shot and killed a family man Sunday around 5:30 p.m in Poayiddi area in I’lavaalai, while unidentified armed men shot and killed another family man around 7:30 p.m in Karaveddi in Vadmaraadchi during power cut, sources in Jaffna said.

The civilian killed by SLA soldiers was identified as Ponnuthurai Vijayaratnam, 32, from Nakuleasvaram Veethi in Keerimalai, according to the National Identity Card found on his person.

Vijayaratnam had been living in Poayiddi area in I’lavaalai for a long time.

I’lavaalai police, in their statement made in Mallaakam magistrate court citing SLA, said that SLA road patrol unit soldiers opened fire on the victim when he tried to lob a hand grenade on them.

The police also said that a hand of the victim was found shattered and that a hand grenade was recovered near him.

The above claims made by SLA and police remain to be confirmed.

The police, however, said that the victim’s identification was not known in their statement.

The man killed in Karaveddi was identified as Valli Vayithilingam, 46, a resident of Karaveddi in Vadamaraadchi.

Unidentified gunmen, during power cut Sunday around 7:30 p.m had gone to the vicitim's house and called out his son’s name.

When Vayithilingam came out the killers shot him on his head and fled the scene.

The body with severe head wounds was handed over to Manthikai hospital mortuary Sunday midnight.

Point Pedro Additional Magistrate, Allex Rajah, who conducted the inquiry into the death directed the police to hand over the body to family members.