Editor of a Tamil daily attacked

(January 29, Coolombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Days after a senior Rupavahini journalist was attacked by unknown persons, the associate editor of the state-owned Tamil daily Thinakaran was stabbed by an unidentified gang which had stormed his house in Maligawatte last night, police said.

According to the victim Suhaib M Cassim’s father, a gang of five had stormed the Maligawatte Flats residence of Mr. Cassim around 8.15pm and tried to drag him out. Mr. Suhaib who was on a telephone call at that time had been shoved on to a chair before stabbing him once.

The gang who stabbed the journalist in the presence of his wife and father had immediately fled the scene in a trishaw. The victim’s father had rushed him to the Emergency Service Unit of the Colombo National Hospital.

45-year-old Mr. Suhaib was warded after an emergency surgery. Accident Service Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe told the reporters the victim’s condition was not critical.

Meanwhile it was reported that Mr. Suhaib who was the Associate Editor of Thinakaran was transferred from his post to the recently set up Training and Research Division of the Lake House on Thursday due to unknown reasons.

Reliably learns that he was apparently having a rift with Lake House Chairman Bandula Padmakumara, who is believed to have ordered the transfer.

Mr. Suhaib reportedly handed over a petition to Mr. Padmakumara, signed by 10 Muslim Parliamentarians including a few senior Ministers requesting the Lake House management to reinstate him in his post.

Mr. Padmakumara was not available on phone last night for his comments on the matter.

According to the victim’s father, Mr. Suhaib had received several threatening telephone calls during the past few days after his transfer.

Maligawatte police said a special team was probing the matter.