Curfew in Kaaththaankudi, Aaraiyampathi lifted

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 May 2008, 13:39 GMT]
The curfew imposed in Kaaththaankudi and Aaraiyampathi areas in Batticaloa district Thursday, following the killings of three Muslims in revenge by paramilitary and the slaying of a key operative of the TMVP Pillayan group, was removed Friday around 6:00 a.m. Tension continues in the areas as final rites of the victims were held in their respective religious cemeteries while all shops, government and private institutions remained closed, sources in Batticaloa said.

No incidents of violence took place in the above areas after the killings, Batticaloa district Senior Police Commissioner, Nanayakara said.

Sri Lankan police and Special Task Force (STF) commandos, deployed in large numbers, continue to maintain security and peace in the areas.

The bodies of the three Muslims killed were interred Friday morning in the Muslim cemeteries in Kaaththaankudi and Kaangkeayanoadai.

TMVP Pillayan group political head, Shanthan’s body, taken from Puthoor in Batticaloa to Aaraiyampathi Friday around 10:30 a.m, was kept there for people to pay their last respects.

It was brought back to Puthoor where it was interred Friday around 5:30 p.m.

Eastern Province Council Chief Minister Pillayan paid his last respects to Shanthan’s remains Friday around 2:20 p.m at Aaraiyampathi.

Shanthan's wife, Christina, is the newly elected chairperson of the Aaraiyampathi Piratheasa Chapai (Pradeshya Sabah).

The shooting on Muslim civilians took place on the main road 50 meters from a STF camp close to which a paramilitary installation is located. Muslims were also attacked in a bylane in the vicinity.