A Tamil journalist was threatened by a local politician with links to a former paramilitary MP on Wednesday.
The freelance journalist was photographed against his consent near the entrance of the Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court by a member of the Karaichi divisional council, and another individual who accompanied him. The council member is reported to be a member of a political party led by M Chandrakumar, a former parliamentarian who served under the paramilitary Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) until 2016.
When the journalist objected to being photographed, the two reportedly verbally threatened him, and also took a photograph of the journalist’s motorcycle, stating that the photographic evidence was needed.
The journalist notified police officers who were on duty at the court complex at the time and later filed a complaint at the Kilinochchi police station.
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