Potkerni families flee army harassment

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 May 2006, 17:26 GMT]
Large number of resettled war-affected families in Potkerni, a hamlet in the Thampalakamam division Tuesday started fleeing after a group of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and home guards had entered their houses ransacking the property, Tuesday, civil sources said.

SLA soldiers conducted a cordon and search operation in response to a claymore explosion Tuesday morning at 99th milepost in which one home guard was killed and two others injured. Injured were admitted to the Kantalai district hospital. Thereafter they started harassing families living in the village.

Ms. Leelawathy was injured when soldiers fired at random following the explosion, sources said.

About 966 members of displaced families are given shelter in a Pilliayar Temple at Puthukudiruppu and Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is currently supplying meals to the refugees, sources said.

Mr.N.Singarayer, Divisional Secretary, Thampalakamam visited the temple and inquired from the victims of their urgent needs, sources said.

Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian said he has brought to the notice of the Trincomalee Government Agent the plight of residents of Potkerni due to army harassment, sources said.