Ex-president of Co-operative union shot dead in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 January 2008, 14:29 GMT]
Unidentified gun men shot dead the former president of Kodikaamam Multi Purpose Co-operative society (MPCS) Thursday around 6:30 a.m, in front of his house at Naavatkaadu in Va’rani in Thenmaraadchi, sources in Jaffna said. The victim is the fourth person engaged in co-operative activities in Jaffna peninsula to be shot and killed, the sources added.

The victim was identified as S.Nadesapillai, 61, a resident of Va’ra’ni in Thenmaraadchi.

The killers, arriving on a motor cycle, called Nadesapillai out of his house, sprayed bullets on him and fled from the site.

Subramaniam, the former president of Kaithadi MPCS and the president of Jaffna Farmers’ Consumer Society, Gananathan, the president of Jaffna MPCS and Sivamaharajah, president of Thellippalai MPCS were the prominent co-operative activists shot and killed in Jaffna peninsula earlier.

Most of the civilian affairs in Jaffna peninsula including distribution of food and consumer goods are handled by the MPCSs in Jaffna peninsula led by their presidents elected by co-operative society members.

Nadesapillai had recently resigned from the president post from Kodikaamam MPCS apprehensive of the risk involved in continuing in his post and had led a reserved life at home.

Kodikaamam police recovered his body Thursday around 3:30 p.m and handed it over to Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary.

The killing has created fear among staff employed by the co-operative societies in Jaffna.