LTTE kills fisherman on high seas

Rassappa Joseph, a 52-year-old fisherman was killed in the seas of Jaffna when his boat came under fire of the LTTE's long range guns from Pooneryn yesterday, the army media centre said.

According to the army spokesperson the Jaffna coastal fishermen who were prohibited from fishing due to the security measures for quite a long period were permitted to fish from the Passaiyoor jetty in Jaffna yesterday. Several fishing vessels left the jetty in the morning and around 10.30 am they came under heavy fire from the LTTE's long range guns from the Ponneryn area.

Fifty-two-year old Rasappa Joseph, a father of three children was severely injured and succumbed to gunshot injuries on admission to the Jaffna General hospital.

The Magisterial inquiry was held into the incident following the autopsy.