2ND LEAD

3 killed, 9 injured, multi-barrel rockets hit Kathiraveli

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 September 2006, 15:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army fired Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher shells hit Kathiraveli, 10 km north of Vaharai, where Internally Displaced People from Muthur East and Eacchilampatru have sought refuge. 3 civilians were killed, 9 wounded, according to LTTE officials in Kathiraveli. Medical sources in Batticaloa reported that ICRC personnel transported at least 2 wounded civlians to Valaichenai hospital. The MBRL attack on Tuesday on Kathiramalai in Batticaloa district's north, comes amid speculation by analysts in Colombo that Sri Lankan military was planning another offensive towards southern Trincomalee and northern Batticaloa areas where thousands of IDP's have taken refuge.



One of the IDP victims killed in Kathiraveli was identified as the driver of Eachilampathu Co-operative, Subramaniam Mahendrarajah, 45. He had recently fled Eachchilampattu.

ICRC personnel have transported two wounded civilians, M. Arulchelvam, 38, and S. Indra, 32, to Valaichenai hopital, medical sources said.

The wounded were later transferred to Batticaloa hospital.

Kathiraveli is located 43 km southeast of Trincomalee town and 65 km northwest of Batticaloa.