BATTICALOA, Nov 20: A Muslim couple were killed early on Sunday morning by suspected LTTE gunmen. This is the latest incident in a series of what is called systematic targeting of Muslims in the volatile eastern district of Batticaloa.

Mr Meerasaivu Ahammed Lebbe, 44, and his wife Fowziya Lebbaithamby, 43, were shot dead in their house in Miravodai, a predominantly Muslim village in the east. Police said the assailants had broken into the house and shot the victims while they were asleep.

The killing comes in the wake of a grenade attack on Friday on the Grand Mosque of Akkairapattu in Batticaloa where four Muslims were killed and over 18 worshippers injured.

Sources in the area said around 100 Muslim families had fled from the Tamil-Muslim border villages in Akkaraipattu following the incident.

The LTTE claimed in a statement that ‘paramilitary cadres’ were responsible for the attack.