2ND LEAD

Killings, forced disappearances again on increase

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 October 2006, 16:13 GMT]
Armed abductors, riding in white van and three-wheelers, during curfew imposed nights in Jaffna for the past 3 days, have abducted at least 10 persons, issuing death threats to the victims' families warning them not to file complaints with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), according to eyewitnesses in Kokkuvil, 6 km northeast and Alaveddy, 11 km north of Jaffna town. Meanwhile, an automechanic was shot into his eyes and killed at his workshed at Thattatheru Junction Saturday around 3:30 p.m. A family man was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds in Vadamaradchi in the morning.

The 33-year-old automechanic was identifed as Thirnavukkarasu Sureshkumar, 33, of Neeraviyadi. The killing has taken place close to a Sri Lanka Army checkpost.

In Vadamaradchy, a 40-year-old man, father of three, was shot and rushed to Manthikai hospital Saturday morning around 8:00.

Armed men who came to Velautham Nagarajah's house, shot at his legs, Point Pedro Police said.

Meanwhile, family members of the abducted victims in Kokkuvil and Alaveddy areas said they have abstained from reporting the forced disapperances to the Human Rights Commission office in Jafna or to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), fearing reprisals by the abductors, alleged to be Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence operatives.