 The Batticaloa district was tense as the funeral of the slain Pillayan associate Murali was set to take place in Kalawanchikudi last afternoon amidst fears the internal feud of the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) could fuel further as a result of the latest killing.
According to the results of a post mortem carried out on the death of Murali, his tea was poisoned and he was later shot dead in the eye at close range in Trincomalee, sources told the Daily Mirror yesterday adding that this proved the killing was part of an internal rift and not carried out by the LTTE.
In typical ‘war lord’ style the body of Murali was driven from Trincomalle to his home town in Kallawanshikudi, Batticaloa late on Wednesday night accompanied by at least 100 armed Pillayan cadres travelling in some 17 vehicles including an ambulance.
Sources said the police Special Task Force was placed on high alert fearing clashes between cadres loyal to Karuna Amman and Pillayan during the funeral of Murali, who was a former top close associate of Pillayan as well as a relative of Markan who is also an ally of Pillayan.
“Karuna loyalists have not been permitted to attend the funeral of Murali. Posters have come up saying the killing was carried out by the LTTE but it is clear this was part of the internal rift and the main suspect who is in the custody of Pillayan has also confessed this,” a spokesman for Pillayan told the Daily Mirror on the condition of anonymity.
However Thilleepan, who is the Batticaloa political head of the TMVP (Karuna faction), refuted claims of the killing being part of any internal rift which had initially broken out earlier this year but was later reported to have been resolved following meetings between Pillayan and Karuna.
“Murali was shot by a gunman while having a bath. There is no rift and he was not killed by any TMVP cadre,” Thileepan told the Daily Mirror.
The main suspect involved in the killing identified as Anel is now in the custody of the Pillayan faction and has reportedly confessed that he was given money by a top Karuna loyalist to carry out the killing. There were fears that an intense clash may erupt between Karuna and Pillayan cadres as a result of the latest killing.
The government Media Center for National Security (MCNS) claimed the LTTE pistol group who had been hiding inside Murali’s residence carried out the killing. Police were investigating the incident.
Agencies
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