12 civilians including 8 Muslims injured in SLA assault in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 April 2008, 15:00 GMT]
More than twelve civilians including 8 Muslims sustained injuries in an indiscriminate attack by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops Monday around 7:30 p.m in Jaffna town and its neighbouring areas, sources in Jaffna said. Armed men in military uniform had tried to rob a house Five Junction area, and SLA troops who rushed to the scene, went on a rampage assaulting civilians along the way, witnesses said. The injured were admitted for treatment in Jaffna Teaching Hospital Monday night.

SLA troops assaulted people on the roads, inside houses, travelling in vehicles, in Va’n’naarpa’n’nai, Five Junction, Pommaive’li and the Muslim areas of Jaffna town.

Two staffers of Yarl Thinakural Tamil Daily in Jaffna too were beaten by the SLA troops on their way to their office for duty.

Traders returning home after closing their shops were also assaulted by the SLA troops.

People injured in the SLA attack sought treatment in Jaffna Teaching Hospital for treatment from 7:30 p.m to 11:00 p.m, hospital sources said.

There was fear and shock among the Muslim community in Jaffna as a result of the SLA attack, the sources said.

Jaffna peninsula civil society organizations have requested Jaffna SLA High Command to conduct a detailed inquiry into this matter.