Five SLA soldiers, civilian injured in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 November 2005, 14:57 GMT]
Five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured, most of them seriously, when the tractor they were travelling along the the Point Pedro Jaffna highway at Maruthady junction, 500 meters south of Point Pedro town, came under grenade attack by unknown assailants at 7.45 p.m. Thursday night, sources in Point Pedro said. Injured soldiers have been taken to the Palaly Base hospital.

A youth, Thangavelautham Thavendran, 20, from Alvai Karaveddy, was seriously injured when SLA soldiers fired indiscriminately at the bystanders after the incident.

The youth was rushed to Point Pedro General Hospital in Manthikai and later transferred to Jaffna Hospital, medical sources said.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said Kallapai SLA camp, which serves as a protective unit to the Point Pedro 524 Brigade Head quarters also came under gun fire from unknown gunmen. No details are available of any damages or injuries to personnel.

Following the incidents Point Pedro town has been cordoned off and residents are blocked from gaining entry in or exit from the town area.

Security of Vadamaradchy area has been strengthened after the incidents, sources said.