Published on - 5/19/2005
An unidentified gunman, suspected to be from the LTTE, has shot and killed one more Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) member and injured two anothers in the general area of BATTICALOA Wednesday (18 May 2005) around 9.15 a.m.
The deceased, identified as MOHAN alias ARUMUGAM MURUGAPALLAI (25), an EPDP activist, has received four pistol shots on his neck and chest when the suspected LTTE pistol man shot him inside the public market, BATTICALOA in spite of the crowd present at the market.
The victim was rushed to the BATTICALOA hospital immediately but he succumbed to pistol shot injuries while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The injured civilian, VELUPILLAI NAVARATHNAM (50) of PUMP HOUSE Road, PALAMIMADU, BATTICALOA, is lying at the ICU in BATTICALOA hospital.
A Policeman who was on duty at the location also received pistol shots to his pouch but escaped physical injuries.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials visited the location as well as the Hospital and made inquiries after recording statements.
No arrests have been made as yet.
The BATTICALOA Police are conducting investigations.
TRINCOMALEE
LTTE infiltrates into cleared areas in TRINCOMALEE
Tension in the trouble-torn TRINCOMALEE and its suburbs continues to remain high toady (18) after LTTE instigated mobs created unrest on Monday (16) night by throwing a grenade at a Buddha statue at the center of the town.
On Tuesday (17) night around 7.00 p.m, a group of unidentified persons onboard a boat have reportedly detonated dynamite causing a chain of explosions in the fishing hamlet, PATHUNUMBER in TRINCOMALEE with a view to infusing fear into the public.
The group has exploded a couple of dynamites in the area, mostly inhabited by majority Sinhalese fishermen.
However, no injury or any damage was reported due to explosion.
Information further confirmed that the move was meant to scare away the people from their areas of residence and intensify LTTE infiltration into those areas after getting down more and more LTTE cadres from outside for settlement in TRINCOMALEE suburbs.
Meanwhile, another dynamite stick has exploded on the roof of a shop in the general area of TRINCOMALEE on 17 May 2005 around 5.50 p.m. immediately after LTTE instigated violence over replacement of a Buddha statue was brought under control.
In a similar incident, a group of six unidentified persons, suspected to be from LTTE have lobed a hand grenade at the house of a civilian in the general area of ABEYPURA,
TRINCOMALEE, the same night at about 10.30 p.m.
The vehicle (EPJI 8333) of the owner, SAMPATH GUNARATHNE, was slightly damaged in the incident.
Normalcy in the port-city of TRINCOMALEE was disrupted on Tuesday (17) after a group of Tamil people, identified as from Tamil People's Organization, launched a protest campaign over replacement of a Buddha statue near the town center by members of the Three-Wheeler Association.(Ref. Situation Reports 17 May 2005)
However, normalcy was fast returning to TRINCOMALEE by Wednesday (18) afternoon, although shops and other offices remained closed for business.
The Police have however instructed all parties concerned to seek court intervention to arrive at a solution.
The Police has strengthened security to affected areas in order to maintain law and order.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has also been alerted.
The TRINCOMALEE Police investigations are on.
