Tamil boy in Batticaloa wounded in gunfire by Sinhala policemen on meat hunting

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 December 2010, 11:40 GMT]
A 13-year-old Tamil boy who was playing near Karaveddi playground on Tuesday was hit by gunfire by Sinhala policemen who were on meat hunting 5 km west of Batticaloa town. Policemen on hunting have been firing indiscriminately on animals in the area causing panic among the civilians who live in the hamlets. The injured boy, Baskaran Vijayakumar, a 9th grade student at Naavatkaadu Naamaka'l Viththiyaalayam, has been admitted at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital. Policemen targeting pigs in the jungle area use automatic rifles and fire several rounds, the civilians in the area complain adding that the residents in the densely populated areas have been hit by gunfire also on earlier occasions.

R. Thurairatnam of the EPRLF (V), a provincial council member, has demanded the Senior Superintend of Police in charge of Batticaloa to discipline the policemen under him.

There are seven ASP police divisions under him: Ma'nmunai North, Ma'nmunai-pattu, Ea'raavoor, Koara'lai-pattu, Ma'nmunai South, Koara'lai-pattu North and Ma'nmunai West.

The incident on Tuesday has taken place in the area under Ma'nmunai North ASP.