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Black Tiger day in East erupts in violence

by Ranil Wijayapala

Army Commander Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda yesterday dispatched his second in command to the East to ascertain the security situation there following the killing of an LTTE political activist and with three others including the Batticaloa region political leader 'Senathy' injured in two separate incidents in Batticaloa.

The latest violence incidents were reported in Batticaloa as the LTTE held low-key celebrations to commemorate 'Black Tigers Day' in the North-East yesterday.

The Army Chief sent Chief of Staff designate Major General Chula Seneviratne to the Eastern Province especially to the Batticaloa area to ascertain the security situation in the region .

"He also has been asked to study security conditions in the area and take all necessary steps to prevent further clashes between the LTTE and other armed factions", a press release issued by the Army Headquarters last night stated.

An LTTE political activist who survived with gunshot injuries at Vantharamoolai, where one LTTE political cadre was killed, has accused the Karuna faction of killing the political activist, Eastern Province DIG Neville Wijesinghe told the Daily News.

According to Police, Ravi alias Murinji, an LTTE political wing activist was shot and killed when he was heading towards Valachchenai on a motorcycle with another LTTE political wing cadre, Iswaran, around 10 a.m. yesterday. Iswaran who received gun shot injuries was taken to hospital, the sources added.

According to DIG Neville Wijesinghe, he has given a statement that they had been attacked by two Karuna faction cadres who arrived on a motorbike from the opposite direction.

However, DIG Wijesinghe told the Daily News that there was no evidence on who was responsible for shooting LTTE Batticaloa Political Wing Leader Senathiraja and his colleague at Arasadi junction in Batticaloa.

"The Police are not in a position to obtain statements from the two victims who are in a serious condition," Wijesinghe added.

Nagalingam Padmaseelan alias 'Senathy' and Sinnathambi Madivanam were shot at by unidentified gunmen at Arasadi junction near the Public library building around 9.30 a.m. yesterday. Senathy has received three gunshot injuries and was admitted to the Batticaloa Teaching hospital in critical condition, Police said. According to Batticaloa Police, Senathy had undergone surgery at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital last afternoon.

The incident has taken place while people were attending a function to mark Black Tigers Day at Devanayagam Hall Batticaloa.

DIG Wijesinghe said the LTTE had organised several ceremonies both in the LTTE controlled areas and in Government controlled areas in the East to mark Black Tigers Day.

This was the first violent incident reported in the government controlled areas in Batticaloa since the brief tenure of present Army as the Overall Operations Commander in the East where he initiated discussions with the LTTE leaders in Batticaloa to put an end to the violent incidents in the East.

Army Commander Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda after assuming duties last week also emphasised the necessity of conducting a constant dialogue between the Army and the LTTE to dispel the mistrust between the two parties.

***

Government concerned

The Government is concerned over the two incidents that took place in Batticaloa last morning resulting in the death of one person and injuries to some others, a media release from the Presidential Secretariat stated. These incidents jeopardize the law and order situation in the Eastern Province, which the government is firmly committed to upholding, the release states.

Investigations are being conducted by the Police to identify the perpetrators of these crimes, it adds.

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