2nd lead

Gunnmen target auto-rickshaw owners, another killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 April 2006, 09:50 GMT]
An auto-rickshaw owner was shot dead by gunmen at Irupalai junction on the Jaffna-Pt.Pedro main road, around 1 p.m., Sunday. "The victim was sitting inside his vehicle. He was chased by the assailants when he tried to escape. He was shot and killed near Vairavar temple. Sri Lanka Army soldiers were standing by," an eyewitness told TamilNet. The SLA has a large camp about 100 metres from the junction. In a seperate incident, a former member of the PLOTE, Amirthanathan Kennady,35, was gunned down at Navanthurai, in Jaffna, around noon, Sunday.

Amirthanathan Kennedy escaped an assasination attempt 3 months ago. He was shot and seriously injured by unidentified armed men inside a private bicycle park in Jaffna town.

The auto-rickshaw owner who was killed Sunday was identified as Kurunathan Janarthan,23, of Kulakkandy lane, Kopay in the Valikamam sector of the peninsula.

The assailants escaped through Old road in their motobike.

Additional Magistrate, Mrs.Srinithi Nanthasekaran visited the site.

Two auto-rikshaw drivers were killed Saturday evening at Nelliady. Black-flags were put up and sombre music were played in Nelliady market, sources said.



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