Youth killed Police firing during a gang fight in Mallakam last night

When Police fired during a gang fight in Mallakam area in Jaffna, a youth standing in the area was killed by the shooting. Great tension prevailed in that area.

Pakiyarasa Sutharsan ( aged 32) of Kulamankal, Mallakam was the person shot dead by the police. During the fighting two youths were also injured and had been admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

The feast of Mallakam Sathasahaya Matha  was held yesterday evening.  A group of person who had come to the church area from some other area attacked  people who were standing in front of the Church.

A team of police officers who were returning after an inquiry into a death at the Tellipallai Hospital had tried to stop the fight. The youth at the spot had tried to attack  people in front of the Church with swords and iron rods and also tried to attack the police officers. Then the police had fired in the air. Thereafter when some of the attacking group tried to escape, the police had targeted a youth standing their, and had aimed the rifle at the youth. Noticing this the uncle of the youth had embraced him shouting ‘Don’t shoot…Don’t shoot”.

However , a rifle round hit the uncle and he was killed on the spot. Meanwhile the sword gang had escaped from the spot. And two persons from Erlalai , T.Sritharan(aged 27) and R.Pratheeban were injured in the attack and were admitted to Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. The police who made the firing also went away from the spot.

As a youth who had come for worship had been shot dead, the people of the area attacked police vehicle and went into a road blocking struggle. When the police tried remove empty bullet casings from the spot, some youth present there had taken possession of some of the casings which were strewn all over.

When the situation became worse police closed the road and the church gate and tried to control the people. However the situation went from bad to worse resulting in STF and police being massed there.

However, after  the Mallakm Magistrate A.Judson visiting the spot and making inquiries, the people abandoned  their struggle and the magistrate ordered the police to undertake further inquiries.

The area people were found demanding justice for the killing of an innocent person.