Farmer shot dead in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 September 2007, 16:42 GMT]
Unknown gunmen on a motorcycle followed a farmer riding home on his motorcycle and shot him dead around 01:05 p.m Monday with a pistol in front of Aalaiyadivempu Divisional Secretariat, located on Chaakaamam road in Akkaraipattu in Amparai district, Akkaraipattu police said.

The victim was identified as Kanthaiya Kurupairajah, 43, a resident of Sinhala Maha Viththiyalayam Veethi in Akkaraipattu.

He was returning home from Akkaraipattu town after attending to some personal errands there.

The victim frequently goes to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held area for cultivation activities and may have had close relationship with the LTTE, the police claimed.

A member of Karuna group may have killed him, local residents said.

Police recovered the body from the place and handed it to Akkaraipattu hospital for postmortem examinations.

Akkaraipattu is located 74 km south of Batticaloa town.