Two civilians shot dead in East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 May 2007, 19:38 GMT]
Unidentified gun men shot and killed two civilians Wednesday in Periyakallaa'ru, Ka'luvaagnchikkudi in Batticalo district, and in Kolavallai, Amparai distict.

In the first incident, unidentified gunmen shot dead a supporting staff employed at Kalmunai Hospital Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. at his residence in Periyakallaa'ru police said.

The victim has been identified as Johnson, 56, the father of Sinthjuan (alias Johnson Jeyakanthan), a member of Pillaiyan group, a recent breakaway group from the Karuna group.

The deceased visited the office of the Karuna group Wednesday morning and inquired about his son who is believed to have been abducted. Sources say an altercation developed there.

Johnson had returned home after this incident and is believed to have been killed by members of Karuna group who followed him to his residence.

His body recovered by Kal'uvaagnchikuddy police is kept at Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Hospital, pending post-mortem examination.

Kaluvaanchikudy police have commenced investigation into the killing.

The killing is believed to be related to the abduction of Sinthujan after the recent break up of Karuna group.

In a separate incident a civilian was abducted from his mother's home Wednesday night at 9:35 p.m. in Kolaavillai in Amparai district by a group of five armed men and shot dead in a farm land near 3rd mile post along Amparai- Akkaraipattu road.

The deceased identified as P.Sumanathas, a civilian married in Periyakllaaru.

His body recovered by police is kept at Akkaraipattu hospital.

Akkaraippattu police have commenced inquiries.

Both killings are the outcome of internal strife within Karuna group, according to sources in the East.

Periyakallaru is located 27 km south of Batticaloa.

Akkaraipattu is located 58 km south of Batticaloa.

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