Jaffna campus employee shot, injured

[TamilNet, Sunday, 25 January 2009, 14:09 GMT]
A 41-year old warden of a men's hostel belonging to the Jaffna Campus was shot and injured by unidentified gunmen riding in a motorbike along Potpathi Road, Kokkuvil in front of the Pillaiyaar Temple when he was returning from his mother's home in Koa'ndaavil after lunch at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. The injured warden was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, but his injuries are said to be non life-threatening, hospital sources said.

The injured warden of Anandacoomaraswamy Men's Hostel, Manickam Premachandran, is a father of one child.

The assailants warned Premachandran not to work for the Jaffna Campus administration before they shot at him, the victim said in a statement recorded by the Police.

A recently circulated leaflet published by an anonymous group contained a list of students, lecturers, and employees of Jaffna Campus with death threats for their association with 'terror' activities.

Premachandran's name was one mentioned in the list, civil sources in Jaffna said.

The shooting has created fear and tension within the students and administrative staff of the Jaffna University.