SLFP candidate attacked in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 April 2010, 05:56 GMT]
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) candidate Ramanathan Ankajan contesting Jaffna electorate and his supporters were attacked around Wednesday midnight between Aanaipanthi and Aariyaku’lam on Jaffna-Point Pedro road by a group of armed men alleged to be of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), sources in Jaffna said. Three supporters of Ankajan are said to be abducted at gun point by the armed men who had set fire to one of the vehicles of Ankajan group. Ankajan and his supporters were engaged in making arrangements to welcome President Mahinda Rajapakse who is expected to visit Jaffna Thursday. Conflicting interests between the candidates of SLFP and EPDP who are contesting jointly in ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) ticket may be the cause for the attack, the sources added. There were no army soldiers or police present at the location during the attack, the sources added.



Around 100 to 150 armed men had first blasted a hand grenade and opened fire on the vehicles of Ankajan group and then attacked them smashing the vehicles.

One of the vehicles had been completely burnt and Ankajan and his supporters had fled to save their lives, the sources added.

The UPFA list of nomination consists of 4 SLFP candidates and 8 EPDP candidates making a total of 12 candidates contesting Jaffna electorate in UPFA ticket.

Chronology: