Three policemen, EPDP cadre, tri-shaw driver shot in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 November 2005, 10:44 GMT]
Unidentified assailants Thursday morning opened fire at a tri-shaw transporting an EPDP cadre and the policemen providing escort to his vehicle. Three policemen, the EPDP cadre and the tri-shaw driver were wounded and rushed to Batticaloa Hospital. The incident took place near a police post located north of Batticaloa town on Trincomalee Road around 10:30 a.m., police said.

The EPDP cadre, Mr. Arumugam Pathmakanthan, 24, had gone to Gnanasuriyam Square with Police escort to collect Thinamarusu weekly paper from a transport agent when they came under attack, police said.

The policemen opened fire at the assailants who shot at them. However, the attackers managed to flee from the site, police said adding that the gunmen had used T-56 rifle to fire at the victims.

The policemen, Mr. Ranjith Anuruddha, 35, Mr. Karuna Tissa, 39, and Mr. K. Jayaratna, wounded in the incident, were attached to Batticaloa Police.

The wounded tri-shaw driver has been identified as M. Siriwardena, 30.

The wounded persons were rushed to the Batticoloa hospital for treatment.