Business establishments reopen in Nelliady

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 December 2002, 17:44 GMT]
Business establishments in Nelliady, which remained closed following the Police attack against picketers on Tuesday, reopened today, and trading is coming back to normal, sources in Nelliady, a town 30 km north east of Jaffna, said.

In Tuesday's attack, the Police opened fire on those standing inside shops and passers by, injuring 14 people, some critically. Traders in Nelliady shut down their businesses Wednesday and Thursday as part of a hartal (general shut down) in protest of the attack.

Yesterday afternoon, the minister of Hindu Affiars, Mr. T. Maheswaran visited Nelliady and held discussions with traders, the officer in charge of the Nelliady Police and the Assistant Superintendent of Police for Jaffna. On assurances by the police that the incidents would not be repeated, the traders agreed to reopen their establishments.

Meanwhile, the Police as well as the Human Rights Commission are continuing their separate investigations into the Police firing on picketers.