A group of Sinhalese attacked a motorcade by Tamils in Trincomalee to remember a LTTE member who died during a hunger strike 36 years ago.
Media photographers captured how TNPF MP Selvaraja Gajendran and party activist Nataraj Kandipan were beaten with clubs and motorcycle helmets and stones thrown at them at Sardapura junction yesterday (17).
They were travelling in a cab that was displaying a large-size photograph of Rasiah Parthipan alias Thileepan.
Also carrying national flags, the attackers, including a woman, accused the parliamentarian of being an LTTE leader and used filthy language on him.
They also demanded the motorcade turned back without proceeding.
Police were present but no arrests were made.
Gajendran told journalists that it was an attack by the state.
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The motorcade was on its way from Pottuvil to Nallur in Jaffna to remember Thileepan during a weeklong event.
He died on September 26, 1987, exactly 11 days after launching a hunger strike in front of Jaffna University to highlight the demands of the Tamils.
