2ND LEAD (UPDATE, CORRECTION)

Three siblings shot dead in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 January 2008, 05:01 GMT]
Armed men who came on motorcycles shot and killed three siblings at Choalaiyamman Koayiladi in Ma'nduvil in Thenmaraadchi in Jaffna Peninsula, Wednesday night around 8:00 p.m., sources in Chaavakachcheari said. The attackers, alleged to be members of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Field Bike Squad, surrounded the house, ordered the members of the family to go inside a room for inquiry and sprayed bullets on them, killing two, including a mother of two children while the children narrowly escaped from the bullets.

The victims were identified as Palasundaram Baskaran, 30, Thushyanthan Paleswari , 21, mother of two, and Palasundaram Parthipan, 19.

Baskaran and Paleswari were killed on the spot. Parthipan succumbed to his injuries hours later, caused by the lack of timely medical attendance.

The killings have taken place in the same area where recently three bodies of youths abducted and shot dead had been dumped by the killers.

The centuries old Chaiva temple located in Choalaiyamman Koayiladi is a much venerated temple with historic significance.

Chaavakachcheari police and Divisional Magistrate Court are investigating into the killings.

Chronology: