Residents urge removal of Kanchirankuda, Thirukovil STF camps

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 October 2002, 10:45 GMT]
Several residents of Thirukovil and adjacent villages pleaded before the Committee of Inquiry that is probing into the killing of eight Tamil civilians at Kanchirankuda recently that the Special Task Force camps in the area should be removed to ensure their freedom of movement and normalize their day-to-day lives.

The Committee of Inquiry appointed by the Interior Minister resumed hearing at the Thirukovil divisional secretariat auditorium for the second day Tuesday. The committee is probing into the killings of eight civilians by the commandos of the STF stationed at Kanchirankuda recently.

The Committee of Inquiry Tuesday recorded the evidence of eleven villagers including four injured in the firing by STF commandos and seven relatives of the killed civilians.

The committee is comprised of Air Commodore Harry Gunatilake (chairman), retired judge Mr. Oliver Weerasena and Mr. Samithamby Vivekanandan. The Senior Superintendent of Police Mr.M.K.Savangan functioned as secretary of the committee.