Civilians assaulted after grenade explosion

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilians were severely assaulted at Kurunagar jetty in the Jaffna town this morning around 10.30 a.m., after a grenade went off nearby. Many fishermen at the jetty were assaulted by the Sri Lankan Army in the area. People who were passing by were also severely beaten up by SLA soldiers, said sources in Jaffna town. No one was injured in the explosion.

Among those who were severely beaten up were two members of the EPDP, Raheem, who is the member of the Jaffna Municipal Council and Sebastian. Both had been admitted to the Jaffna General Hospital.

The Sri Lankan Army assaulted another EPDP Municipal Councillor at 'Mambalam' junction in Jaffna town today following the Kurunagar grenade explosion.

Several EPDP cadres were also arrested and held at the Aariyakulam and Ariyalai SLA camps.

Police sources in Jaffna said that the SLA suspects that EPDP was behind the grenade explosion at Kurunagar jetty.

The EPDP's Jaffna organiser, Jegan, putout a statement late this evening, condemning the assaults on groups members by the SLA.

The statement accused the SLA at Kurunagar for the attack on the EPDP.