2ND LEAD (CORRECTION)

SLA kills man in Eravur

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 22:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers killed a man riding in a bicycle when the man ignored SLA's warning to stop at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Santhiveli area in Eravur Police division.

Witnesses said the SLA soldiers first shot Kathamuthu Rajanayagam, 43, a father of three, in his leg, and after he fell to the ground, shot him dead at close range.

The soldiers placed a hand-grenade by the side of the dead man to fake an attempted attack on the soldiers by the deranged-man, residents further alleged.

Eravur police, after investigations, has handed over the body to the Eravur District Hospital, medical sources said. Later, the body was handed over to the family.

Local witnesses gave written statement at the Eravur Police that the SLA soldiers shot dead the unarmed man. Tension prevails in the area as residents fear reprisals from the soldiers.

Santhiveli is located 22 km north of Batticaloa town.