SLA soldiers shoot dead civilian in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 October 2008, 20:10 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers attached to Kodikaamam SLA camp in Thenmaraadchi shot and killed a 45-year-old civilian during curfew hours Thursday around 9:00 p.m. near his house in Kachchaay North in Kodikaamam, sources in Chaavakachcheari said. Kodikaamam police said that the SLA soldiers had opened fire on him as the victim ignored troopers’ order to stop.

The victim was identified as Subramaniam Tharmenthiran, 45, a bachelor, living with his 90-year-old mother in Kachchaay North, near Kodikaamam SLA camp.

Tharmenthiran was walking outside his house during curfew hours when the SLA soldiers lying in ambush near Kodikaamam SLA main camp opened fire on him, the police said.

Kodikaamam police handed over the body to Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary Wednesday midnight.

Tharmenthiran's brother identified the body and Chaavakachcheari magistrate directed the police to hand over the body to the brother.

Kodikammam SLA main camp and its surrounding area are heavily guarded 24 hours a day.

An artillery barrage on this camp last year by the Liberation Tigers had killed some soldiers and seriously injured many.

Many key SLA officials had narrowly escaped being killed or injured in the attack, the sources added.