Jan 10, Jaffna: An unknown group today has attacked a distributor of The Uthayan newspaper published in Jaffna in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

The four unidentified assailants attacked the newspaper distributor identified as Pradeepan and set fire to the newspapers and the motorcycle he was riding.

The victim has been admitted to Jaffna hospital.

Meanwhile, another distributor of the same newspaper in Valvettithurai area has also lodged a complaint in Valvettithurai police stating that an unknown group attempted to assault him. The newspaper distributor said that he ran to the police station to escape from the attackers.

The Uthayan is a Jaffna-based Tamil newspaper which has survived for a long time amidst repeated attacks by unidentified groups.

In July 2011 Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan, the news editor of The Uthayan was also brutally attacked.