Civilians wounded in Akkaraippattu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fourteen civilians were wounded when the Sri Lankan Police opened fire following a grenade attack by suspected members of the Liberation Tigers, in Akkaraippattu town, southeast of Amparai, this morning, said sources there.

Three of the civilians have been admitted to the Amparai hospital, they added.

Police sources said that their assailants lobbed a grenade and then opened fire and the civilians were wounded in the following fire fight.

The Police did not suffer any casualties, they added.

However, residents in Akkarippattu said that the civilians were wounded in the police retaliatory fire after the attacking group had got away from the scene.

The shops in Akkaripattu were closed following the incident and the town was deserted, said sources.

The Army and Police have launched a search operation in the area. It could not be confirmed whether any arrests were made.