1 Policeman and 9 Muslims injured in Oddamavadi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 20:28 GMT]
9 Muslim civilians who had come to buy provisions and a Policeman, who was on guard duty near the Oddamavadi Bridge, were injured when two unknown assailants riding a motorbike hurled a hand grenade targeting the Policemen at Oddamavadi Public Market in Valaichchenai Police area in Batticaloa District, at 9.30 a.m. Tuesday.

The injured Policeman, M.Nilantha, 34, and bystanders A.Sihamudeen, 15, M.Subair, 18, M.A. Mohammad Safeek ,32, Mohammad Abusali 36, Usanar Makkem, 36, M.I.Ahamed Lebbai, 43, M.Ismail, 48, A.Ismail, 80 and M.Meera Lebbai, 83 were admitted to the Mancholai Rural Hospital and the critically injured were later transferred to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

Policemen rushed to the scene fired indiscriminately and searched the area surrounding the market. The area remained tensed for more than an hour.

Meanwhile, a Police Sergeant, M.Vijayaratne, 38, was injured when unknown gunmen hurled hand grenades at the Chenkalady Police Post located near the Eravur Pattu Divisional Secretariat, at 7.30 p.m. Monday, sources in Batticaloa said. Vijayaratne was admitted to the Eravur District Hospital and later transferred to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

Police fired following the attack and carried out a search operation in the surrounding area.

Oddamavadi and Chenkalady are located 30 km and 13 km north of Batticaloa respectively.