1 killed, 2 disappear, 2 surrender at HRC in Urumpiraay

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 August 2007, 11:13 GMT]
Koappaay Police recovered the body of a youth with gunshot wounds alleged killed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed paramilitaries Thursday night in Urumpiraay North and transferred the body to the Jaffna Hospital Friday morning, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, in Urumpiraay two youths disappeared and two others sought safety with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna, HRC officials said. HRC officials said in the first two weeks of August, 18 have disappeared, 21 have been killed and 11 have surrendered to the HRC in Jaffna district.

I. Krishnakumar, 23, who was displaced from Ma'ravanpulavu in Thenmaraadchi area and was living in Urumpiraay working as a mason, surrendered with the HRC Friday morning fearing for his life from SLA-backed paramilitaries, HRC officials said. Krishnakumar's national ID was confiscated by unidentified men Thursday morning.

Another 30-year old family man who was receiving treatment at the Jaffna Hospital for wounds suffered during a claymore attack on SLA in Thachchanthoappu area last week has also surrendered to the HRC office Thursday. His national ID card was confiscated by unidentifed men early this week.

Krishnakumar has complained to the HRC that another one of his friends, Mahalingam Nirupan, was abducted by armed men while they were watching movies Urumpiraay in one of their relatives house. The body recovered in Urumpiraay this morning has not been identified if it belonged to the disappeared Nirupan.

Meanwhile, armed men entered the house of a 14-year old youth in Urumpiraay Thursday morning at 4:00 a.m and abducted him after searching his house. The youth was an 8th grade student at the Urumpiraay Chiva Tamil Vidiyalayam near Katpaka Pillaiyar Koayil, according to student's relatives.