Mental patient shot dead

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 December 1999, 11:10 GMT]
A mentally ill man was shot dead by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at Meeravodai, about 35 km. north-west of Batticaloa, Wednesday night, around 10 p.m. said sources.

The man, Sinnathamby Puniyamoorthy, 43, was shot dead when he went to the 'Murugan' Temple where he normally sleeps, his relatives said.

The soldiers took away the body and left it along the lagoon the relatives who found it this morning said.

The body was later removed by the SLA soldiers and handed over to the Valaichenai hospital. His body was handed over to his family this evening after an inquest was held at the hospital, sources said.

The victim who suffers from mental sickness has a habit of loitering in the area and troops at the Meeravodai camp were aware of his habit, the relatives said.