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One shot dead in open court : LTTE continues killing spree

by Ranil Wijayapala and Asanga Warnakulasuriya

Despite warnings by the international community including the US, EU and Japan to cease political killings, the LTTE has stepped up its ruthless campaign of terror against rival groups and political opponents.

The latest such incidents were reported yesterday from Akkraipattu, where suspected LTTE pistol gang members gunned down another Karuna faction cadre and Wellawatte, where an ex-LTTE cadre was shot dead.

Periyamban Jeyakumar, an associate of LTTE breakaway leader Karuna, was gunned down as he was produced before Akkaraipattuwa Magistrate court after being taken from the Batticaloa remand prison.

The unidentified gunman was seated inside the court, DIG Eastern Province Neville Wijesinghe told the Daily News.

Three others including a jailor guard, court official and Policeman received minor injuries.

Jeyakumar was under remand prison after being arrested by the Police Special Task Force on May 19 in Akkaraipattu as he was in possession of a hand gun and a hand grenade along with Sarwanamuttu Shanthakumar. They were associates of Karuna. The gunman had fled on a motorcycle parked near the Court amidst the commotion that followed the shooting.

"We have alerted all checkpoints in the area about the motorcycle and have deployed sniffer dogs to find out to which direction the killer had gone", DIG Wijesinghe added. Police have found a cap and some other items believed to be of the gunman from the place where the motorcycle was parked.

Police deployed around the Court had not been able to shoot due to the presence of civilians inside the court.

Previously, Sarwanamuttu Shanthakumar was gunned down along with Satchi Master a close associate of Karuna on July 15 by a fellow inmate inside the Batticaloa remand prison.

Suspected LTTE cadres carried out attacks on troops at two occasions on Saturday and Monday in Kayankerni area, which the Army have pointed out as blatant violations of the ceasefire.

In the incident at Wellawatte, ex-LTTE cadre identified by Police as Suppaiah Kugananthan was shot dead on Monday night, Wellawatta Police said. Preliminary Police investigations revealed that unidentified suspects had shot dead Kugananthan around 8.30pm while he was with his colleague at the Sri Arubindo Ashram, E.A. Cooray Mawatha, Wellawatte.

The suspects who entered the Ashram had repeatedly fired at Kugananthan leaving his colleague unharmed. Around six shots had been fired using a 9 mm pistol, Police said. According to Police, Kugananthan is said to be a Jaffna resident who had come to Wellawatte five years ago to work in his brother-in-law's Ashram.

Police are yet to make any arrests.

The United States and the European Union last week urged the LTTE to cease all killings, stop child recruitment and work towards the recommencement of negotiations. Japan has also voiced concern over the violence.

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