SLA attacks, arrests 46 fishermen from Gurunagar

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 October 2006, 10:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed in camps along Gurunagar shores south east of Jaffna town fired at, and launched mortar attacks for more than 15 minutes on nearly 46 Gurunagar fishermen returning to shores in 15 boats to Jaffna Municipal areas from Liberation Controlled areas of Pooneryn and Kanjikuda at 6:00 a.m Monday, sources in Jaffna said. One boat was destroyed and no one was injured, according to sources.

Several fishermen from Gurunagar, Pashiyoor, and Jaffna islet of Mandaitivu, who were at sea when fighting broke out along littoral villages along Jaffna lagoon on 11 August, had sought refuge in Liberation controlled areas on the southern shores of the lagoon, as they were unable to return to the Peninsula, fishermen said.

With the closure of A9, and failure of talks in Geneva-II reduced the prospects of A9 reopening in the near future, the fishermen said they took the risk to cross Jaffna lagoon by boats.

SLA soldiers fired at them after they anchored their boats in Mandaitivu and were walking towards Jaffna town waving white flags, fishermen said.

However, the SLA arrested fishermen for further investigation.

SLA troops cordoned off and searched coastal areas including Gurunagar, Pasaiyoor and Mandaithivu until Monday noon suspecting infiltration by Liberation Tigers, sources in Jaffna said.

Meanwhile, a civilian was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Muneeswaram road in the central business area of Jaffna town, sources said.

The body has not been identified yet, according to local traders.

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