Number of Jaffna civilians injured by SLA shelling rises to 99

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 12:32 GMT]
Additional 41 civilians seriously injured by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling from Palaly military base towards areas in Jaffna islets from Allaipiddy to Mankumban, were taken to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Monday by Jaffna branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC), hospital sources said. 54 injured rescued Sunday and the 4 injured helped by the SLRC on Saturday, bring the total injured admitted to the Jaffna Hospital during the last three days to 99, civil society sources in Jaffna said.

SLRC officials said that they recovered Monday 14 bodies of civilians killed by the artillery attacks on the islets.

With the 4 bodies recovered Sunday, brings the total casualties to 18, Jaffna Hospital staffers said.

However, the 14 bodies were not brought to Jaffna hospital.

SLRC officials said they will continue the urgent humanitarian work in recovering additional bodies and assisting the injured to be taken to Jaffna Hospital Tuesday.

Meanwhile, several civilians in Jaffna who utilized the relaxation of curfew between 10 a.m and 12:30 pm announced by the SLA, came under gunfire, sources in Jaffna said.

S.Sanjeevan, 24, who was escorting his mother on Racca Road, Jaffna, was fired upon by Police on security duty at 12:20 Monday. Sanjeeven was rushed to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital with serious gunshot injuries.

Unknown gunmen riding a motor bike hurled hand grenades at the compound of Jaffna University Student Hostel at 12:00, student sources said. K. Yasotharan, a visually impaired student, was severely injured in the grenade attack, and has been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, according to student sources.

Further, two civilians in Uduvil area, injured by SLA shelling Sunday, were brought to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital during the short curfew reprieve.