Protests in Jaffna after police kill unarmed Tamil man

by Thusiyan
Jul 10, 2017

Protests have erupted in Jaffna, after an unarmed Tamil man was shot dead by Sri Lankan police yesterday.

Locals burnt tyres, blocked roads and destroyed a police post in demonstrations, as residents clashed with Sri Lankan security forces.

Tensions continue to run high in Vadamaradchchi, including in Karaveddy and Thunnalai, with the Sri Lankan government having deployed the Special Task Force and police across the region.

Reports suggest that two policemen have been arrested in response to the shooting of the unarmed Tamil civilian. The two police officers, who were presented in front of Point Pedro magistrate today, have been remanded until the 24th of July. The police officers have been identified as Sub inspector Sanjeevan and Sub inspector Mohammed Mubarak.

Earlier today Sri Lanka's police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara told reporters that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara had ordered a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to  visit Jaffna. Mr Gunasekara said the investigators would reach Jaffna on Tuesday to conduct an impartial investigation into what happened. 

Police are still conducting a search operation for the two other unarmed Tamil men fled the scene after the first Tamil man was shot dead by the police.

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