2ND LEAD

Civilian killed in gunfire at Chenkalady market

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 June 2005, 08:08 GMT]
A 40 year old civilian, Mr. Thadchanamoorthy Karunamoorthy, was killed on the spot as Sri Lankan Army soldiers returned fire on gunmen who shot at an EPDP cadre Thursday morning around 10.30 AM, according to eyewitnesses in Chenkalady market. The EPDP cadre, Mr. Tharmaratnam Elamaran Ravi, 30, who was in-charge of the Chenkalady EPDP office, and an SLA corporal Mr. Piremathilake, 35, were wounded in the attack by the gunmen.



Mr. Karunamoorthy, the civilian who was killed when SLA returned fire, is an auto-rickshaw driver from Mavadivempu in Chenkalady, residents said.

A Police constable, Mr. W. M. Nimal, received minor injuries, Police said.

One T-56 rifle used by the assailants was recovered by the Police at the spot, Sub-Inspector of Eravur Police Mr. S.J.Santhapala said.

The injured EPDP cadre and the SLA Corporal are being transferred to Colombo for treatment, sources said.

Police blamed LTTE for the attack on the EPDP cadre.

The EPDP cadre has been targeted by unidentified attackers for the fourth time, according to Eravur Police.

Chenkalady is located 16 kilometers north of Batticaloa.