2ND LEAD (Photos updated)

SLA soldiers attack students inside Jaffna Advanced Technological Institute

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 07:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army troopers Friday morning entered the grounds of Jaffna Advanced Technological Institute (ATI) and beat the students who were paying tribute to Annai Poopathy. Soldiers attacked the Student Union Leader of the ATI Mr. Suganthan and 15 fellow students including 8 female students. Sri Lankan soldiers, who entered into the grounds in a Buffel Armoured vehicle, removed the Thamileelam national flag, hoisted in the school grounds and smashed the photograph of Annai Poopathy, windows of the college building, and the motorbikes parked inside the college ground. Tension prevails in Jaffna where students were organising protests against the attack.

The SLA soldiers entered the grounds of the ATI located on Palay Road at 10:30 a.m. and launched the attack on the students who were present inside the school grounds.

SLA soldiers also removed cellphones and digital cameras from the students, Students Association said.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials rushed to the spot following the attack.