2ND LEAD

NGO worker killed, directors wounded in DPU attack in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 March 2007, 11:42 GMT]
Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) directors who were returning after monitoring the relief assistance to the displaced civilians, following the Sri Lanka Army operation in Mannar Vavuniya border, were attacked by a Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit Claymore mine Saturday around 12:30 p.m., initial reports from Vanni said. Humanitarian worker Muthuraja Aruleswaran, was killed and 3 TRO directors, including the Assistant Executive Director of the TRO, Vadivel Ravichandran, 38, were wounded in the attack which took place at Periyamadu in Mannar district, located northwest of Madu.

The victim, Mr. Muthuraja Aruleswaran, 30, from Mudkompan in Pooneryn, is a father of a 1-year-old child, TRO officials said. Aruleswaran, an Emergency Assitance worker, was driving the TRO vehicle when the attack took place.

International Planning Director of the TRO, Seenithamby Parameswaran, 41, and the Director of Akkarayan Development Organisation, Selvarajah Nixon, 37, from Silavattai, were wounded in the Claymore attack that took place at Periyamadu, according to the initial details.

2000 families were displaced from areas eash of Madu. IDPs had moved towards Iluppaikadavai, Vellankulam, Jeyanthipuram and Kilinochchi.

Further details are not available at the moment.