Development official killed in DPU Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 July 2008, 05:35 GMT]
Deputy Planning Director of Poonakari (Pooneryn) division and a development official at Ki'iinochchi District Secretariat, Santhalingam Vimalakumar, 33, was killed Friday morning following a Claymore attack that targeted his motorbike at Kokkaavil in Oddisuddaan. Mr. Vimalakumar was on his way to Vavuniyaa on official engagement while he was attacked, according to officials at the District Secretariat.

The victim, also known as Mathan, was attacked by a Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) at 7:40 a.m., Tamileelam Police officials said.

Vimalakumar was the president of the organisation serving the needs of government officials without land in Ki'linochchi district.

The attack on a DS official who was engaged in assisting the civilians comes at a time when all officials at district and divisional levels were engaged in serving the refugees arriving on a large scale exodus from Sri Lanka Army occupied areas of Mannaar district to Ki'linochchi and Mullaiththeevu districts.

Last month, Nagalingam Nanthakumar, Divsional Secretary of Thu'nukkaay division of Mullaiththeevu district was killed in a similar attack while traveling to his office.

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