Batticaloa traders appeal for closure of EPDP office

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 June 2008, 14:16 GMT]
Traders of Chengakaladi area closed their shops for the second day in protest against the forcible abduction of a fellow trader, Thursday around 3:30 p.m. Armed men of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) in a white van allegedly carried out the abduction, according to complaint made by the victim’s relatives with Ea’raavoor police, Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the Red Cross Society. Meanwhile, representatives of Chengkaladi Traders Association met Pillayan Tuesday, and appealed to him to close the EPDP office in the area.

The shut down followed the distribution of the handbill issued by the Traders of Chengkaladi calling for the immediate release the fellow trader, sources in Chengkaladi said.

The abducted trader is identified as Thevathas Sureskumar, 35, a family man and a resident of Aa’ndaangku’lam, Chengkaladi in Ea’raavoor police division in Batticaloa district.

Sureshkumar’s wife Vijeyaluxmi had gone to the EPDP office and pleaded for his release but since he was not freed Vijeyaluxmi lodged a complaint with the police stating that her husband was abducted in front a fueling station, source added.

Acting on her complaint police have arrested three EPDP men and kept them in detention.

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