Muslim youth shot dead in Galle

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 18:06 GMT]
Karzi Mohammed Rameez,a 22 year old Muslim youth was shot dead and three other Mulims and four police officers were injured when police opened fire to quell disturbance in Galle-Katugoda area 18 November night, sources said. Curfew has been imposed in Galle municipal area according to sources.

Residents of the area said that there was tension between the the two communities following an incident related to a three-wheeler between Rameez and a Sinhala youth a month ago.

Yesterday night the Muslim community had protested when Rameez's complaints to the police that a group of Sinhala youth has been harrassing him were ignored by the police. The police said they had to open fire in self-defence as the protester were turning unruly and attempted to attack them.

The injured have been admitted to the Galle-Karapiddy hospital. The last rights of the dead Muslim youth took place today at the Katugoda cemetary.

Minister Vajira Abeywardena ordered immediate transfer of Chief Inspector of the Galle Harbour police station.

Sinhala civilians began a protest against the transfer adding to the prevailing tense atmosphere and the authorities decided to impose a curfew to prevent situation deteriorating further.

Interior Minister, John Amaratunge, declared that the curfew will be maintained only in the area of Galle municipal council boundary and said that vehicular movement in the Galle-Colombo road will not be impacted by the curfew.