The murders that are taking place in the north east are shocking. People are saddened over these killings. The people are in despair over these killings. The murder of Sahathevan Niluxan, a part time journalist and Jaffna University student, by unidentified gunmen is most despicable.

These gunmen have visited his house in Kokuvil, at 6 in the evening, took him out of the house under the pretext of making some inquiries and shot him dead. He had returned to Jaffna only a day ago, by ship after following a two week seminar in Colombo.

The Free Media Movement condemned this killing and stated it was rather shocking that he was killed by unidentified gunmen, while a curfew was on in the area.

He is the 8th journalist to have been killed in the Jaffna peninsula. This has caused a sense of fear among the journalists in the peninsula. The international media organizations have stated that Jaffna town appears to be most the dangerous and the most insecure place for journalists.

The Jaffna university students have boycotted lecturers. Before the people of Jaffna could recover from this shock, another student has been killed by unidentified gunmen in Jaffna. The deceased student is identified as Thanikasalm Sasikaran(25), a student of Higher Technical College, Thirunelvelli.

The government must take immediate steps to put an end to killings of students in the Jaffna peninsula and to alleviate the fear that has gripped the students, teachers and parents.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari,a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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