Armed men shoot Tamil youth dead in Mannaar playground

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 February 2009, 12:24 GMT]
A Tamil youth playing in a playground in Keeri in Mannaar town was shot dead by armed men arrived in a van on Thursday evening. Keeri playground is located along Mannaar-Thaazhvupaadu road. The victim was identified as Paththinathan Thavaseelan, a displaced from Naakathaazhvu in Mannaar and currently residing in Periyakaamam 100-houses scheme, according to complaints lodged with the Mannaar police.

The victim along with several youths was playing in the ground when a pick-up vehicle arrived at the site.

Four armed men from the pickup entered the playground and started playing with local youths. Suddenly one of them dragged the victim to their van.

But the victim had resisted their attempt and started fleeing from the scene. However one of the armed men started firing at the fleeing youth who fell on the ground dead with three gunshot injuries. Thereafter armed had fled from the scene in the pickup, sources said.

Mannaar Magistrate held the inquest Friday morning and directed the police to hand over the body to the parents of the victim.