Muslim trader shot, killed in Poththuvil

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2010, 12:24 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen who broke into the house of a Muslim trader in Poththuvil in Ampaa’rai district Tuesday around 12:45 a.m opened fire on the trader who was in the bedroom, according to the victim’s wife. The seriously injured victim was rushed to Poththuvil District Hospital by the neighbors where he succumbed to his wounds, hospital sources said. Meanwhile, Ampaa’rai district Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) parliamentarian, M. H. Haris had told media few days ago about the paramilitary groups of politicians who are involved in the recent robberies operating unchecked despite complaints made to police.

The victim killed was identified as Mohamed Aliyar Abdul Razak, 47, the father of five children.

Abdul Razak told Poththuvil police that she was in the bathroom when she heard the gunshots from the bedroom where she found her husband lying in a pool of blood.

No one has been arrested yet and Poththuvil police are investigating into the killing.

SLMC parliamentarian M. H. Haris said that politicians continue to use their paramilitary men in robberies and extortion in Kalmunai in the Eastern Province and that despite complaints to police with the names of the armed men no action has been taken against them.

Meanwhile, the Officer-in-Charge of Kalmunai police station, Siran Perera said that the suspects in the robberies in his police jurisdiction manage to get away with the help of influential politicians.