Paramilitary confrontations trigger SLA operations in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 May 2011, 05:59 GMT]
The occupying SL Military has stepped up cordon and search operations and check points in Batticaloa district following the slaying two persons associated with Karuna and Pillaiyan paramilitary groups in the district. All the travellers are stopped at newly set up check point at 5th Mile Post along Kalmunai-Batticaloa Road and are being interrogated by SL intelligence personnel.

On May 11, a supporter of Karuna paramilitary group of SL Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, was shot dead at his residence located in Pu'liyantheevu in Batticaloa city.

Last Friday, a supporter of the Pilliayan group of Eastern Province Chief Minister S. Chandrakanthan, was shot dead.

SL Police said unidentified armed gangs were responsible for the killing.

Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan has joined Mahinda Rajapaksa's SLFP while Chandrakanthan is aligned with Rajapaksa's UPFA alliance.

Killings are taking place although the Police claimed that cadres of the two paramilitary groups had surrendered their arms.

On May 19 Seenithamby Pakkiyarajah who contested the Manmunai South Eruvilpaththu PS on the TMVP ticket and later joined ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was attacked by a gang of twelve persons , all of them were armed with rifles, according to complaint Mr. Seenithamby to the Ka'luvaagnchik-kudi Police.

Meanwhile Eastern Provincial Councillor P.Prashanthan of the TMVP led gang is alleged to have involved in several robberies in villages including Aaraiyampathi at gunpoint.