Grenade attack in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army allegedly lobbed a grenade at the home of S. Sivagurunathan, on Vipulananda Road Valaichenai, 32 km north of Batticaloa, around 9:00 a.m. yesterday, said ex militant sources. The incident is thought to be related to earlier events.

On June 15, Mr. Sivagurunthan, who works at the Ottamavadi Divisional Secretariat (DS), was arrested in Valaichenai during a cordon and search operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).

He was detained at the SLA's Paper Factory Camp.

His release was secured only after protracted negotiations, which had even Deputy Minister Post, Telecommunication and the Media, M. L. A. M. Hisbullah (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress) intervening on his behalf.

It is believed that the SLA had lobbed the grenade to demonstrate its displeasure at use of influential persons to secure the release of Mr. Sivagurunathan.

Mr.Sivagrunathan was not at home when the incident occurred.

Mr. Sivagurunathan was accused by the SLA of supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Local residents feel that the SLA found his spirited intervention on behalf of the people in the area very irksome and had arrested him for that reason, the sources added.