SLA artillery fire kills father, son in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 October 2008, 08:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery barrage on Ki'linochchi town and its suburbs Friday evening, killing a 68-year-old father and his son around 5:20 p.m. while they were moving their household articles to Tharmapuram to escape continuing SLA artillery fire on residential areas. Six shells fell and exploded in the densely populated suburb.

The two victims were reduced to pieces when a shell fell and exploded near the tractor in which they were transporting things from their house in Uruththirapuaram seeking safer place in Tharmapuram area in Ka'ndaaval'ai division.

The tractor driver narrowly escaped death.

The victims killed were identified as Chinaiah Ramalingam, 68, former manager ofthirapuram Multi Purpose Cooperative Society and his son Ramlaingam Vijayananthan, 32, a teacher in Ki'linochchi Aiyanaarpuram School.

Ramalingam is a father of 3 children and his son Vijayananthan is the father of one child.

The SLA artillery barrage began Friday around 4:40 p.m targeting the civilian settlements in Kanakapuram, Thirunakar, Uruththirapuram, Ira'naimadu, 155th Mile Post, Paarathipuram, Oottuppulam and other areas in Ki'linichchi district. The indiscriminate shelling lasted until midnight.

Residents in areas under SLA artillery fire in Ki'linochchi district continuing since last week were desperately trying to salvage their household goods from their houses risking their lives.