Youth shot dead, 2 injured in SLA shooting in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 16:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers opened fire on three youths Tuesday around 1:00 a.m killing one and injuring the other two, along Loaddan Veethi, Maanippaay in Valikaamam, according to the report submitted by Maanippaay police to Mallaakam magistrate court. Police claimed that SLA soldiers on road patrol had opened fire on the youths when the youths tried to run away when ordered to stop. The injured youths are admitted for treatment in Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

The youth killed was identified as Ramachandran Jeevithan, 19, a resident of Kurunakar in Jaffna, according to the National Identity Card found in victim's pocket.

The reason for the youths presence outside, when the 9:00 p.m to 4:00 a.m curfew was in force, are not known.

Following the police report Maanippay magistrate Ms. Sarojini Illangkovan visited the site of the killing and conducted inquiries.

The magistrate directed Maanipaay police to hand over the body to Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary and to continue investigation into the killing.

The police handed over the body to Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary Tuesday evening.