Jaffna civilians shot dead

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army shot dead a youth identified as Yogarajah Ramesh, 18, in Madduvil around 1.30 p.m. today. The youth's body was brougt to the Jaffna Hospital by the SLA this evening.

The SLA claims that it observed the victim tearing up the election campaign posters in the area, put up by the EPDP. The SLA also claimed that they had recovered a grenade from the victim.

However, relatives of the boy who came to the Jaffna Hospital this evening said that Ramesh was merely reading the posters when he was shot and killed by the SLA.

The SLA shot another civilian today at Palaly at 10.30 a.m., claiming that he was a LTTE activist. The Army said that it had recovered some weapons from him.

The victim is yet to be identified, but sources said he is estimated to be 25 years of age.