Tamil teacher shot dead by SLA in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 October 2006, 15:13 GMT]
A Tamil graduate teacher was shot dead Wednesday morning around 9:00 a.m. by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers stationed in Kinnaiayadi camp while he was taking class to students. Thirunavukarasu Sivagnaselvam, 32, is a teacher at Saraswathie Vidiyalayam located in Valaichchenai police division in Batticaloa district. He was rushed to the Valaichchenai government hospital but succumbed to injuries.

The victim is from Nagamunai Ampilanthurai located in LTTE controlled territory, but during the time of killing he was residing with his relative in a house located along Nalliah Road in Batticaloa.

According to initial reports, the victim had reported to school Wednesday morning. Later he had been asked to come to Kinnaiayadi camp by soldiers.

Students had seen soldiers talking to the victim for about fifteen minutes. SLA soldiers assaulted the students when student witnesses said gunshots had come from the SLA camp nearby.

Thereafter soldiers had run amok assaulting several members of the public with poles and clubs, according to residents of the area.

Principal of the school immediately rushed to the office of Valaichchenai zonal educational office to report the incident. Students were prevented from leaving the school by SLA soldiers, civil sources said.

Saraswathie Vidiyalayam is located about 29 km northwest of Batticaloa.