09.06.2005

AMPARA

LTTE escapee snatches his abductors’ weapon and shots them down
      In what turned out to be a dramatic twist of fate, an irate escapee from the LTTE shot dead two other LTTE men who came to abduct him after snatching the weapon they were carrying on Wednesday (8) morning and surrendered to the STF troops at ROTTEKULAM, POTTUVIL at about 2.30 p.m. seeking safety for his life.
      LTTE escapee, MICHAEL, in his early twenties, was taking a wash in a nearby canal in his village area when he saw two LTTE men approaching him with a T-56 weapon.
      Those LTTE men, one of who happened to be a friend of his too, according to the escapee, have threatened him demanding his return to the LTTE organization forthwith.
      The LTTE escapee however befriended them and under false pretences agreed to return with them saying that he would re-join the LTTE.
      On the way, LTTE escapee suddenly snatched the T-56 weapon from his abductors at the first chance, and went on firing indiscriminately at those LTTE abductors while they were proceeding towards un-cleared area in KANJIKUDICHCHIYARU, according to a statement given by the escapee afterwards to the Police.
      However, the LTTE escapee before his contact with the troops has reportedly concealed his weapon and its pouch at nearby KIRIYAGAMA village in POTTUVIL.
      The escapee has further claimed that those dead bodies were still lying at the same location where the shooting took place.
      Troops after interrogating the LTTE escapee referred him to POTTUVIL Police station for further investigations.
      The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was to be informed.

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