Ex-EPDP member killed in grenade explosion

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 10:39 GMT]
Former member of Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Chinniah Samuel alias Vinoth (31) and his 15 month old daughter Samuel Abhisha were killed instantly when a grenade exploded at Araiyampathi in Batticaloa district Friday night at 9.40pm, said ex-militant sources in Batticaloa.

Sivagnanam Laveena (8) who was walking on the road nearby was injured and has been admitted to Batticaloa Teaching hospital, medical sources said. The bodies of Samuel and Abhisha are being held in the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for postmortem examinations, medical sources added.

Araiyampath lies 8km south of Batticaloa town on the Batticaloa-Kalmunai road.

Samuel who lived in Beech Road in Araiyampathi was riding in a bicycle with his daughter along Amarasingam Road after attending a yearly festival at the Kannakai Amman Temple when the grenade exploded.

Samuel who was earlier operating with the EPDP later was functioning under EPRLF (Varathan group). He recently quit EPRLF and was working as a self-employed mason, ex-militant sources said.

Kattankudi police recovered another unexploded grenade at the site of the incident and are conducting investigations.

Although it is suspected that unknown assailants threw the grenade at the deceased, residents speculate that the grenade Samuel was carrying for his safety may have accidentally exploded.