Two auto-rickshaw drivers shot dead in Nelliady

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 April 2006, 13:01 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen riding in a motorbike shot dead two owners of auto-rikshaws, at the central bus stand in Nelliady, Vadamaradchy at 5 p.m. Saturday, sources in Jaffna said. Subramaniam Vaseekaran, alias Kannan, one of the two killed, is the current President of the Vadamaradchy branch Auto-rickshaw Owners Union, civil sources said. Relatives and witnesses accuse the Sri Lanka Army and collaborating paramilitaries for carrying out the killing.

Kannan, 28, a father of two, from Rajakiramam village in Karaveddy, following the violence in December had temporarily relocated to LTTE area for safety, and had only recently resumed driving his auto for hire again.

Rathinam Rasinthan, 23, who was standing by the side of Kannan was also killed in the gun fire.

Nelliady traders said that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who are normally stationed in Nelliady junction had temporarily vacated before the killing and had returned back after killlings.

The town is deserted and large number of SLA soldiers and police have been brought to the area, residents said.