Youth shot dead in Puthur

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 July 2003, 10:58 GMT]
Velupillai Paraneetharan (18), a supporter of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was shot dead Friday by unknown gunmen at 1.15pm on Batticaloa-Puthur Vipulanantha road, security sources said.

Paraneetharan was earlier arrested by the Razik group members together with LTTE's Puthur Head of Political Wing, Sathyaraj. Paraneetharan was later released by the High Court on bail.

He was travelling from his home towards Batticaloa town when he was shot. He died on the spot, according to security sources. Police sources said that they found four bullet wounds in his body.

The body has been taken to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for postmortem examinations. Police are investigating the incident, security sources said.

Residents in Puthur speculated that this killing was carried out in revenge by ex-militants for the killing of Peoples Liberation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) member Justin in Puthur.