Businessman shot dead

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 October 1998, 15:15 GMT]
The SLA shot dead a businessman, Anthonypillai Irasamaansingh Suresh ,23, and wounded his mother in Palai in Jaffna last night around 7 p.m. Shops in Palai town were closed in protest against the killing despite a severe warning from the army that they should be opened forthwith or remain shut for a week.

Sources in Palai said that some soldiers had come looking for a person near the businessman's house last evening. And, as that person had run away on seeing the troops, they had asked Suresh's mother for him. The soldiers had assaulted her when she told them she did not know the whereabouts of her neighbour who had run away.

When Suresh had attempted to stop the soldier who was assaulting his mother, another SLA trooper who was standing nearby had opened fire on the young businessman, killing him on the spot. His mother was wounded in the shooting and has been admitted to the Palai hospital.

The incident occurred near the PMT timber stores in Palai town. Suresh was the owner of 'Viji Kalanjiayam' and was from village of Iyakkachchi, further south. It is now occupied by the SLA.