2nd lead

Senior LTTE political official shot

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2005, 13:54 GMT]
A senior political official and two of her colleagues were shot and seriously wounded around 6 p.m.Monday near Akkaraipattu by gunmen suspected to be from a paramilitary working with the Sri Lankan armed forces, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. Ms. Kuveni, head of LTTE's political division (women) for Batticaloa-Amparai was traveling in a auto rickshaw with two of her colleagues in Thambattai, about six kilometres south of Akkaraipattu when gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire on them, LTTE sources said. "This could not have happened without the knowledge of the Sri Lankan armed forces in that area", charged an LTTE commander in Batticaloa.

Ms. Kuveni, Head of LTTE Women's Political Wing in Batticaloa-Amparai

The three were rushed to Kalmunai hospital.

"The Special Task Force (STF) checks every vehicle that goes on the Akkaraipattu-Thirukkovil road. Also this road is on a narrow strip of land between the sea and the lagoon and the STF has a camp on either end of it. Hence, the gunmen could not have hit their target and escaped safely without the active collusion of the STF", the LTTE commander said.

Ms. Kuveni's injured colleagues, both from LTTE's women wing, are Akanila and Sasimathy, LTTE sources said.