Two others were wounded. Batticaloa MP Ali Zahir Moulana alleges that the Army was responsible for the killings and has demanded an enquiry.
Arbitrary killings are an increasing concern in the east, where death squads freely roam.
The Army shot dead Chenkalady teacher S Nesasundaram in early December. The LTTE attacked soldiers in a tractor at Mylambaveli in Eravur on 10 December and two civilians in a bus nearby were injured. Prison officer T Sivarasa was shot dead at Karaitivu on 12 December by unidentified persons. Five days later K Gunaratnam was shot and injured in Karuvakerni. A soldier accused of the attack after Rajkumar s family failed to supply him liquor, has been arrested.