News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 March 1999, 11:54 GMT]
Twelve year old girl escapes rape attempt; Civilian killed in clash; Shot dead youth was a civilian say relatives; Religious leaders plan visit to the Vanni: Tigers say they have recovered the body of a SLA soldier killed in clashes on Satuday.

Girl escapes rape attempt

A 12 year old girl whom Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) personnel had allegedly attempted to rape this morning at Suruvil in Velanai, the large island close to Jaffna escaped after biting the hands of one of her captors said a Tamil politician representing this area.

He said that the girl had gone in the morning to tend the family's vegetable garden when some SLN personnel who had been hiding there had grabbed her and carried her towards a secluded spot.

The girl, however, had struggled and bitten the sailor who was carrying her.

The Navy personnel had taken to their heel when neighbours had rushed to the spot upon hearing the girl's cries said the Tamil politician from Kayts.

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Civilian killed in clash

A civilian was killed in a clash between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in the early hours of the morning today around 3 a.m. at Sarasaalai in the Thenmaradchi division of Jaffna.

The civilian, a 65 year old mentally retarded woman was identified as sinnathamby Sivakolunthu.

Residents said that there were blood stains at the spot where the firefight had taken place in the morning.

The Sri Lankan Police and the SLA in Jaffna, however, claimed that they were unaware of the incident.

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Dead youth was a civilian

The body of a youth which was handed over to the Eravur hospital yesterday morning has been identified as of Rajenthiram Murakamoorthy from Koduvamadhu, said hospital sources.

The body was handed over to his family last evening after an inquest at the hospital.

His relatives said the Army shot him dead when he went to buy fish on Saturday evening.

The SLA had however claimed the youth was killed during a clash at Vantharumoolai and that they had recovered a grenade and a cyanide capsule from him.

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