Blast injures 9 Muslims in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 May 2006, 17:31 GMT]
Nine Muslims were injured in a grenade attack at Pattiadiputty in Akkaraipattu police division when unidentified persons who came in a motorbike lobbed a grenade at them, around 7 p.m, Monday, police in the southeastern town said. The attack comes as preparations are underway to hold elections to several local government bodies in the Amparai district. Civil sources suggested political rivalry might have been the reason behind the attack.

Five of the injured were warded in Akkaraipattu base hospital and the rest were transferred to Amparai general hospital as their conditions were reported critical, sources said.

Elections to several local bodies in the Amparai district are scheduled to be held on May 20.