2ND LEAD (ADDS PHOTOS)

Jaffna civil activist, family attacked by masked gang

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 June 2012, 09:57 GMT]
An unidentified gang wearing masks entered the residence of Cancer specialist at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Dr Jeyakumar, in Kantharmadam Wednesday midnight and attacked Jeyakumar and his family, sources from Jaffna said. While all members of Jeyakumar family escaped with minor injuries, the intruders ransacked the house, destroyed the windows, poured waste-oil inside the rooms and fled when the family switched the lights on and screamed to awaken the neighbours.

The Jaffna Police arrived at the scene after several hours of delay, neighbours told the media.

The attack taking place near the long standing Sri Lanka Army camp located at Kantharmadam junction has shocked Kantharmadam residents and has caused fear among other medical staff at the Jaffna Hospital.

Hospital staff have started a boycott campaign protesting the incident and to highlight the threats to their lives.

Residents said that while the suspicion for the attacks centers around the parties affected by the recently exposed corruption at the hospital, the mode of the attacks was similar to those carried out by Sri Lanka military intelligence.

A hand-written note with nondescript spelling errors left-behind by the intruders further attested to the hand of Sinhala military, neighbours who saw the note said.

"Dr Jeyakumar's leading participation in recent civil activities may have also irked the military establishment governing Jaffna, and after the threats on Mannaar Bishop Raayappu Joseph, this attack was likely intended to further warn other activists," a noted Jaffna civil society activist said.