7 injured in Police, STF baton charge on protestors in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 June 2008, 08:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka police and Special Task Force (STF) commandos, in an attempt Tuesday to disperse the demonstration march of the protestors in Kaaththaankudi against the killing of the Muslim vegetable trader from Kaahthtaankudi Sunday in Batticaloa, assaulted the demonstrators causing injuries to seven, sources in Kaaththaankudi said. The police confiscated 3 motorcycles and 30 bicycles of the protestors.

Three demonstrators arrested by the police in the above incident are detained in remand prison, Kaaththaankudi police said.

Meanwhile, Nimal Samarkoon has been replaced as Eastern Province Deputy Police Commissioner in place of H. M. D. Herath who had been transferred to Colombo.

Three Muslims had been shot and killed in Kaaththaankudi area 25 May and two Muslims from Ea'raavoor were abducted 24 May, following the killing of two TMVP paramilitary operatives in Kaaththaankudi area 22 May.

The shutdown launched in Kaaththaankudi Monday in protest against the killing of the Muslim vegetable trader from Kaaththaankudi Sunday in Batticaloa, continued for the third day.

The two abducted Muslims are yet to be released and the killing of the Muslim vegetable trader had aggravated the tension prevailing in the area.

The Tuesday demonstration march of the protestors was organized by the Muslims of Kaaththaankudi against these killings and abductions, sources in Batticaloa said.