Tamil shops close to STF camp burnt down

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 October 2002, 18:47 GMT]
Two shops owned by Tamils at Pottuvil, about five hundred meters from Kanchirankuda Special Task Force camp in Ampara district, were burnt down by unidentified persons, around 12.30 a.m. Wednesday morning, sources in Ampara said.

The shops owned by Subramaniam Krishnapillai (50) and Rasiah Chandrakumar (50) were located at the Pottuvil main junction, which leads to Roopaskulam, civilian sources said.

The damages to shops have been estimated to be around three hundred and fifty thousand rupees.

Owner of one of the shops Krishnapillai told TamilNet correspondent, "I got Up to answer a call of nature around midnight and saw my shop was on fire.

"I live near the shop. I rushed to the spot with my wife where I saw about ten persons wearing trousers running away from the area. I was scared and did not go near my shop but watched everything with my wife far away from the scene. Later I returned with my wife to Sinnathodddam through a shortcut.

"The day before the incident, LTTE photographer interviewed me regarding the Kanchirankuda incident. I explained in detail every thing that took place. My daughter has joined the LTTE. Since then Kanchirankuda STF personnel has been monitoring my activities with suspicion.

"STF personnel told me to make a complaint to the SLMM stating that the LTTE had forcibly conscripted my daughter. I told them that my daughter joined the LTTE voluntarily. From then onwards STF personnel when buying goods from my shop sometimes do not pay for the goods.

The shop owner made a complaint to Mr. Chandra Nehru, Amparai district Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian in this regard Wednesday morning. On receipt of the complaint Mr. Chandra Nehru visited the scene and made representations to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the Officer-in-Charge of the Akkaraipattu Police.

Later OIC, Akkaraipattu Police and SLMM visited the scene. The Police has started investigation on the arson, sources said.