Police guard shot dead in Chaavakachcheari

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 October 2008, 19:30 GMT]
A member of the police unit guarding the office of Eealm Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) in Chaavakachcheari was killed in gunfire Monday around 11:25 p.m, allegedly from the police sentry posts located in the surroundings of the EPDP office. Chaavakachcheari magistrate directed Chaavakachcheari police to arrest the three policemen who were on duty along with the victim Monday night, on suspicion of having shot and killed him.

The victim was identified as B. A. Raveendra, 43, from Kurunagalle.

More than seven gunshot wounds were found on the victim's body.

The magistrate, who conducted the inquest into the death at the site of the shooting, directed the police to make arrangements for the body to be sent to the victim's home town.

Raveendra was shot and killed while he was preparing tea for the other policemen who remained in their sentry posts.

Details of whether the victim was killed deliberately or due to gunshots fired in warning are not known.

All EPDP offices in Jaffna peninsula are guarded by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and policemen.