Tiger sports chief shot dead

Velalagan alias Papa, who was a senior cadre who was in-charge of LTTE’s sports activities at Kilinochchi, when the outfit was active in the region was shot dead by fellow cadres while attempting to escape with the members of his family in a boat a few days ago from Puthumathalan, informed sources said.

Papa was a senior cadre in the LTTE who held the position as the Head of the Sports Activities when the outfit was in control of Kilinochchi, sources said.

A large number of cadres and their families have now crossed into safer areas by boats and by land routes, sources said.

The civilians who have escaped into safer areas said that a big tussle has broken out in the areas where the LTTE is still holding the civilians between the cadres and families who were trying to escape. The cadres were preventing them from escaping.

A sister of LTTE’s senior military cadre Illanthivayan managed to escape with her family and reached an IDP Centre at Chavakachcheri, a few days ago, sources said.

Likewise family members of several cadres have escaped from the areas of LTTE presence and sought shelter in Vanni and Jaffna peninsula, sources said.

Meanwhile Rev. Father Wasanthaseelan of Mannar Diocese has lost his left leg in an attack in the LTTE held areas and later he was rescued by the Security Forces and brought to Vavuniya, sources said.

(AP)