Man killed in para military feud

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 February 1999, 11:04 GMT]
A man connected with the para - military group, PLOTE, was shot dead when his van was attacked by the TELO this morning.

Sinnathurai Parameswaran, 38, was taking a group of PLOTE cadres in his van to Muthaliyakulam, in the Chettikulam division, about 30 km Southwest of Vavuniya, when an armed TELO party had opened fire on the vehicle, killing Sinnathurai on the spot, said sources.

His assistant was severely assaulted by TELO members, the sources said.

Police sources said that both parties are gearing up for further clashes.

TELO has withdrawn some of its members from areas surrounding Batticaloa town in anticipation of retaliatory attacks by PLOTE in Vavuniya.

Both TELO and PLOTE are para - military groups that operate in areas controlled by the Sri Lankan army.

The recent tension between PLOTE and TELO is over the rights to levy taxes from goods brought into Vavuniya for sale and businesses in Vavuniya, said sources.