Civilian killed in cross fire in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 May 2007, 01:04 GMT]
A civilian was killed in crossfire Tuesday when Sri Lanka Police attempted to arrest a robbery suspect at about 4:45 p.m. in Vavuniyaa, police sources said. The victim was identified as K.Mahendran, 52, a family man and a mason by profession.

A group of unidentified robbers attempting to rob some of the houses Friday night in pa'ndaarikku'lam area were apprehended by civilians and handed over to police.

The police, based on the information obtained from the arrested robbers surrounded a house located near the railway crossing near Vavuniyaa-Mannaar road, and while attempting to arrest the suspect Mahendran got caught in the crossfire.

The police searching the suspect’s house recovered cash Rs.190,000 and unspecified amount of jewellery.

The suspect had purchased the house last month for Rs.400,000 and was also constructing another house nearby, Vavuniyaa police said. The robbery suspect was freely operating from his newly acquired house although a number of police check points and government departments were located closeby, the police added.

The suspect originally came from Vaarikkuddiyoor is believed to be involved many of the recent robberies in the area, police said.