Uthayan journalist assaulted over report

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 18:02 GMT]
A Tamil journalist in Jaffna was severely assaulted by unidentified persons, suspected to be members of the local council (Pradeshiya Sabha) on Saturday night at his residence in Sembianpattu in Vadamaradchi east said his colleagues in Jaffna.

The journalist, Velupillai Thavachelvam, writes for the Uthayan, the Tamil daily in Jaffna.

His father who came to his rescue was also severely assaulted.

The attacks were connected to a report that had appeared in the press pointing out some short coming in the local administration, the journalists said.

Thavachelvam is reported to have complained to the local Sri Lankan Army (SLA) office and sought medical treatment.

Sembianpattu is a village on the southeastern coast of Jaffna and is under the SLA's control.