In the escalating incidents of killings in Thenmaradchy area, a student from Varani Yakkalai area was shot dead at 2.30 p.m. Tuesday. Sources from Varany said the student was a member of a Maaveerar family. His brother, a member of Liberation Tigers, had died in combat earlier. Kandasamy Vaikunthan, 23, who was returing from classes from a privte tutory in Meesalai was shot dead in front of Kannki Amman Temple Varany Chuttipuram along Kodikamam Point Pedro road by unknown gunmen who followed him from his classes. The family of the deceased had recently moved to Vanni area seeking safety. Vaikunthan stayed behind to continue to his studies, sources said.