Razeek group member shot dead [TamilNet, December 17, 1997 23:59 GMT]

The Liberation Tigers shot dead a member of the Razeek group this morning at Thalavai, about fifteen kilometers north of Batticaloa town. The dead youth, identified as M. Kunaratnam 24, was part of fully armed platoon of the Razeek group which had set an ambush on the Liberation Tigers who frequent the Thalavai area from the early hours of the morning.
Two civilians Kandhaiah Thangavel 37, and his wife Sumithra, on their way to collect firewood had walked into the ambush area and were caught by the ambush party, tied up, blind folded and were left in the custody of Kunaratnam.
The Tigers, however, outmanoeuvred the Razeek group's ambush party and shot dead Kunaratnam who was standing guard to the Thangavel couple. The others of the Razeek group ambush party took to their heels, abandoning Kunaratnam's body in Thalavai.
The civilian couple were injured in the cross fire. Two bus load of armed cadres of the Razeek group who are working as soldiers with the SLA have gone to the Thalavai area from their camp in the Batticaloa town following the incident said informed sources close to the group.
They had not returned until evening sources said.