Five civilians killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 March 1999, 11:39 GMT]
Five civilians, suspected to be traders, were shot dead by the Government troops at the forward defence lines near Uyrtharaasankulam in the Uylankulam sector in the early hours of the morning today said sources.

The bodies were handed over to the Mannar hospital around 1 p.m. today on instructions given by the Mannar District Judge, Mr. M.Ilancheliyan, who inspected the dead at the mortuary.

The dead persons are yet to be identified and the Murunkan police are still making inquires.

Local people and businessmen in Vanni travel regularly to Mannar through the jungle to buy goods that the security forces have banned from being taken into the LTTE areas. Even the items that can be taken through are only permitted in severely restricted quantities.

Meanwhile, a 53 year old woman, Velautham Bavanidevi, of Siru Navatkulam in Thandikulam area was shot dead by unidentified gunmen last night, the Police said.

The bullet-riddled body was found at Pattakaadu off the Vavuniya - Mannar road a few kilometres from her house.

Informed sources said that she was a PLOTE activist.

According to initial inquiries, unidentified persons had kidnapped her while she was travelling in an auto-rikshaw. She was on her way to the Vavuniya Railway station to travel to Colombo.

The reason for the killing was not known the Police added.