Two Muslims killed, four wounded in claymore attack in Vaharai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 November 2005, 05:19 GMT]
A Claymore mine exploded Friday midnight at Kirimichchai in Vaharai, 44 km north of Batticaloa, killing two Muslim timber workers, Mr. Mohammed Munas, 28, and Mr. Athambava Mohammed Lebbe, 35. Four persons were rushed to Batticaloa Hospital with wounds, Police said. The crew that had gone to the jungle area to cut timber three days ago, was returning from Kirimichchai to Valaichenai through the Welikanda area in a tractor with woods, civilian sources said.

Mr. Meerasaivu Muzamil, 22, Mr. Athambava Nazeer, 37, Mr. Muhammed Abdul Raheem, 28, and Mr. Mohammed Meerathamby, 28, were the workers wounded in the incident, medical sources said.

The claymore blast, believed to be targeted at LTTE cadres travelling southwards from Vaharai, took place around 00:30 a.m. Saturday on a lane circumventing the Panichankerni Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp which is located on Vaharai Valaichenai main road.

Tension prevailed in Valaichenai, the home town of the Muslim victims, following the incident that took place 17 km north of Valaichenai.