2ND LEAD

SLN Petty officer killed, bodyguard wounded in Jaffna islet attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 July 2006, 10:49 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Navy Chief Petty Officer was shot and wounded and succumbed to his wounds in Jaffna. Unidentified men, waiting in ambush fired with pistols at the officer of the SLN and his bodyguard attached to the Thurayoor camp in the Jaffna islet of Velanai around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Police officials said.

The Petty Officer was a feared SLN figure in the area, according to residents. Local residents allege that he was one of the key personalities involved in extra-judicial killings in Jaffna islets in the past.

Tension prevailed in the area and the SLN conducted a search operation in and around the area where the official was attacked.

Devotees to and from mainland Jaffna travel to the on going yearly festivals at the historic Nagapooshani Amman Temple through the area where the attack occurred. Devotees and travellers to islets of Nainathivu, Nedunthivu, Kayts and other islets have been blocked several hours at Allaipiddy junction for more than three hours today by the SLN troopers manning the sentry, affected travellers said.

Normal traffic flow resumed after 1:00 p.m., sources said.

Meanwhile, the SLN is conducting a search operation in and around the area where the soldiers were attacked.