Policemen shot in Jaffna, one dead, one injured

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 October 2005, 17:07 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike shot and wounded two Sri Lankan policemen at a restaurant 50 meters away from the Nelliyady police station in Jaffna around 9:45 p.m. Friday. The wounded policemen were rushed to Palaly Military Hospital. One policeman later succumbed to his wounds at the military hospital, Sri Lanka Army sources said.

Names of the policemen killed and injured in the incident were not available at the moment.

The restaurant is located in front of a petrol station along the Jaffna-Point Pedro road.

Policemen at the Nelliyady police station opened fire at the gunmen escaping from the scene. However, the speeding motorbike-gunmen managed to escape, police said.

All shops were closed in the area following the incident and tension prevailed in Nelliyady.

Nelliady area was already tense as students who were protesting against the killing of the Tamil activist and Kopay Christian College principal Mr. Sivakadadcham earlier in the day were attacked by the Sri Lankan soldiers.

Nelliady in Vadamarachchi division is located 25 km northeast of Jaffna town.