Thinakkural newspaper distributor attacked
Newspapers set on fire
Thinakkural newspaper distributor, Sivagurunathan Sivakumar (46) was assaulted with iron rods and the newspaper stacks he was carrying burnt near Somaskanda College at Puthur, early yesterday morning around 4.30, when he was taking newspapers from Punnalikattuvan for distribution.
He was followed by 6 persons on motor cycles, and was waylaid near the College.
After assaulting him, they had poured petrol on the newspapers and his motorcycle and set them on fire.
Having sustained severe injuries, he had gone to the nearby army camp and informed the newspaper office. Later the army personnel had admitted him to the Achuveli hospital. Sivakumar, who hails from Punnalaikattuvan is a father of two.
Commenting on the incident, TNA Parliamentarian Saravanabavan.said having attempted to suppress the media and bring it under the governement control, now attacks on distributors of newspapers are being unleashed.
He added further that Jaffna Army Commander Major General Hathurusinghe was responsible for this attack .
After visiting the injured Sivakumar in hospital, he said Government is hell bent on suppressing the media in Jaffna, by unleashing inhuman attacks through a local political party, who has failed to sell their own paper, by trying to destroy such other papers as Udayan, Valampuria and Thinakkural."
"There are serious Human Rights violations taking place in Jaffna by government affiliated groups. Army Commander Major General Hathurusinghe should explain these happenings to the public and the police" he said.