Police Inspector injured in Kattankudy

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 01:10 GMT]
A Police Sub Inspector was injured when unidentified persons hurled hand grenades on a Buffel Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) taking the Police officials from Batticaloa Police Head Quarters, to a conference with Kattankudy Ulamas (Muslim religious hierarchy) at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Police sources said. The meeting was aimed at exploring ways to diffuse the escalating tension among orthodox Muslims, members of Islamic Sufi sect, and the police in Kattankudy area in Batticaloa district.

The injured Sub Inspector, M. Chandrasena, was admitted to the Kattankudy district hospital.

The attack took place along the Batticaloa ­ Kalmunai road in Kattankudy town where Police, Sri Lanka Army (SLA)and Special Task Force (STF) in large number maintain a strict security. Two grenades were thrown at the Buffel when the curfew was in force in this area, Police sources said.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and five others were injured when Police opened fire to disperse the rioting mobs in Kattankudy town around 5:00 pm Thursday.

The injured were admitted to the Batticaloa Teaching hospital. The dead person was identified as Mohammad Mustafa Mohammad Rafik, 38.

The orthodox Muslims, clashing with the Islamic sect Sufi, demand the remains of M. S. Abdul Payilvan, one of the leaders of Sufi sect and the President of All Island Tharikathul Mufliheen, to be removed from Kattankudy soil and buried elsewhere.

They have also observed a Hartal from last Thursday demanding the removal of the body.