Two PLOTE cadres killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 November 2001, 11:24 GMT]
Two armed cadres of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Poonthoddam in Vavuniya around 10.30 p.m. Friday, police sources said.

The PLOTE cadres who were deployed to guard a transformer were returning to their camp at Poonthoddam junction when they were shot at, PLOTE sources said.

They were identified as: Kanthan and Prathap.

PLOTE is a paramilitary group operating with the Sri Lankan government troops, mainly in the Vavuniya region. Its political wing, the Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF) is contesting the forthcoming general election in Vanni electoral district.

Meanwhile a vehicle used by one of the UNP candidates in Vavuniya was damaged when unidentified armed men fired at it Friday night, according to a complaint made with the police in Vavuniya.

The UNP candidate, Santhakumara Punchihewa was returning to Vavuniya after campaigning at Santhasolai, party sources said.

UNP sources said a tractor was parked across the road to block the convoy of UNP vehicles, and shots were fired as Punchihewa's vehicle passed the tractor. No one was injured in the incident.